Meet the top 8 for International Presidents Cup Team

The top eight qualifiers for the 2019 Presidents Cup International Team are final and captain Ernie Els will lead a group that includes four players with a combined 17 previous appearances and four others who will be playing for the first time. The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, Dec. 9-15, 2019.

1. MARC LEISHMAN

Represents: Australia

Age: 35

PGA TOUR wins: 4

Presidents Cup: 3 (2013, 2015, 2017) / 3-7-3 career record

2018-19 highlights: Won the 2018 CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Finished T2 in ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf with Cameron Smith and posted five other top-10s including a third-place finish at WGC-FedExSt Jude Invitational.

Notable: Was Rookie of the Year on PGA TOUR in 2009. First Australian to win the award.

Captain Els on Leishman: “Marc has been the most consistent player on our team. Being Australian, it’s going to be a big week for him. I think he can take a leading role. He’s played quite a few of these now and he can give a lot of knowledge to my players. He’s definitely going to be one of my leader group guys.”

2. HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

Represents: Japan

Age: 27

PGA TOUR wins: 5

Presidents Cup: 3 (2013, 2015, 2017) / 4-6-3 career record

2018-19 highlights: Five top-10s including T3 at Farmers Insurance Open.

Notable: Eight-time winner on Japan Golf Tour. First Asian to win a World Golf Championships event at 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions in China. Won the 2017 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

Matsuyama says: "I’ve played with Ernie several times before and I would love to do my best for him. I think teamwork will be the key for us to beat the U.S. Team. We’ll get together and see what we can do."

Captain Els on Matsuyama: "Hideki is a great and talented player. This will be his fourth Presidents Cup and he’s going to be very familiar with what it’s all about. He’s not been on a winning team, we came close in Muirfield and Korea so I can see him being very keen to win. He’s had a few close run-ins with the U.S. Team, so he’ll be ready to fight. His character is that he’s a winner. He’s won some of the big events that we have out here. He takes it very seriously."

3. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

Represents: South Africa

Age: 36

PGA TOUR wins: 1

European Tour wins: 9

Presidents Cup: 3 (2013, 2015, 2017) / 7-5-3 career record

2018-19 highlights: Claimed victory at the South African Open in late 2018 to end a 33-month winless run. Produced five top-10s on the PGA TOUR including a T2 at the Valspar Championship.

Notable: Formed a formidable partnership with Branden Grace in 2015 and won all four of their matches together. Won the 2010 The Open Championship. He is also one of seven players to finish runner-up in all four majors.

Oosthuizen says: "I think being South African, it's always special when you have someone who was my idol growing up being our captain. I've been through his foundation and he's always been a leader in my eyes. And you can see he's really invested in this and he's really excited about it. And yeah, he's brought great things already to the table. And we are very excited to have him as our captain."

Captain Els on Oosthuizen: "Louis is just so solid as a player. He’s a team guy and I can’t ask for a better player to be on this team. He’s got a great sense of humor and he can keep the guys loose. Everything you can think of in a team environment, that’s Louis. He loves the competition. He loves getting up for it and he’s great in a team format."

4. ADAM SCOTT

Represents: Australia

Age: 39

PGA TOUR wins: 13

Presidents Cup: 8 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) | 14-20-5 career record

2018-19 highlights: Seven top-10s including runner-up finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open and Memorial Tournament.

Notable: Has won THE PLAYERS Championship, TOUR Championship, Masters and two WGCs. A former World No. 1.

Scott says: "Of course, the bigger goal will be (winning) the Presidents Cup. Ernie has made his intentions very clear -- certainly to me -- how much he wants to improve our chances as a team and the work he's going to put in. For me, considering Ernie is really a great friend and mentor of mine, I really want to be part of his team.”

Captain Els on Scott: "I remember playing with Adam in his very first one in 2003 and he’s been on every team since then. He’s really stepped up to the plate to make this team. He was not in the team when qualifying started but he’s played himself into the team. He’s very vocal and very much up for it. With all the new stuff that I’ve brought into the team, he’s really bought into it and it gives me confidence to keep steering the team ahead. He’s the pillar of this team."

5. ABRAHAM ANCER

Represents: Mexico

Age: 28

PGA TOUR wins: 0

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Four top-10s including a career best 2nd place at THE NORTHERN TRUST.

Notable: Won the Australian Open in 2018 and finished T2 at 2018 ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf with Roberto Diaz.

Ancer says: "That was one of my main, main goals for this year. That is something going to be an experience that I will never, never forget. I think the first Mexican that's going to play in the Presidents Cup; that's huge. I mean, I get a little bit of goosebumps right now just talking about it. Just for Mexican golf, I think it's big. Obviously for me, being selfish, it's awesome and it's going to be a lot of fun, but in the bigger picture for Mexican golf, it's awesome.”

Captain Els on Ancer: "Winning the Aussie Open, he understands the Australian culture of golf. I know how much he wants it. A real steely player. I played with him at The Open a few weeks ago, he drove it well and he’s a really good, solid player all round and someone I’d love to have on the team."

6. HAOTONG LI

Represents: China

Age: 23

PGA TOUR wins: 0

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Three top-20s in the WGCs, including T9 at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play where he beat Brooks Koepka and Alex Noren in the preliminary round.

Notable: Holds two wins on the European Tour, including a win at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2018 where he defeated Rory McIlroy in a head-to-head duel in the final round.

Li says: "Ernie is a very special person to me personally. Definitely since 2017 The Open, I played with him and finished the third. He gave me a lot of experience and I learned a lot great things from him. It’s my great honor to be part of the team. Hopefully I can get some points, especially against Tiger, against the best golfer in the world. I’m very excited to be there. To be fair our team is not as strong as the US team. So just want to play our best and hopefully to beat them."

Captain Els on Li: "Haotong is a strong player and he’s got a great game. I’ve played with him many times and at The Open two years ago where he nearly won with a 63 in the final round. He’s got all the qualities of a world-class player and maybe become No. 1 in the world one day. He’s that kind of talent. I like his style of play and he’ll be great in the team environment. He’s quite a lively character and he’s quite outspoken in a confident way. He’ll carry his weight in the team room very well. Good putter, and on his day, he can go as low as anybody. I am really excited to have him on the team."

7. C.T. PAN

Represents: Chinese Taipei

Age: 27

PGA TOUR wins: 1

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Won at the RBC Heritage for his first PGA TOUR win in April. Followed up with a T3 at Charles Schwab Challenge.

Notable: A former World No.1 amateur golfer. Finished T5 in the 2014 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

Captain Els on Pan: "CT is a newcomer and we’ll do our homework to get him comfortable in the team environment and get him the right partner. Overall, he’s got a very sound game. He manages his game very well and he’s a good putter. As a rookie and a person from Chinese Taipei, it’s a big deal."

8. CAMERON SMITH

Represents: Australia

Age: 25

PGA TOUR wins: 1

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Three top-10s including a best of 6th at WGC-Mexico Championship.

Notable: His lone win on PGA TOUR came at the 2017 Zurich Classic of New Orleans which he partnered Jonas Blixt. Winner of Australian PGA Championship in 2017-18. Finished T2 with Marc Leishman at 2018 ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf.

Captain Els on Smith: Cameron is very solid. With Marc Leishman last year, they played good at the World Cup of Golf. He’s very familiar with the golf course and surroundings and I’m looking for him and the other Australians to have a good week. If they can, the fans will be really involved. Cameron is kind of the young star in Australia now and he can really make a difference for us. They will be one of the pairings which will come up automatically not only through the data that will show but through their World Cup performance which was phenomenal. We will look at them as a potential pairing, absolutely.

Four Captain’s selections will be made the week of Nov. 4th.