DUBLIN, Ohio – Ernie Els remembers them as being part of his junior golf foundation in South Africa. They were leaders, who backed it up with their games.
And now they're all together on the same stage of the Presidents Cup.
Els is back for the eighth time, desperate to help the International team win for the first time in 15 years. He is joined by Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace, who got their start in Els' junior foundation, and Charl Schwartzel, who also represented the foundation in competitions.
The International team has six players from southern Africa. Schwartzel, playing for the second time, notices urgency when Els speaks that there's no better place than Muirfield Village to change the outcome.
The matches begin Thursday. The Americans have never lost at home.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.