2003 Presidents Cup Host
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The Links at Fancourt is without doubt the most impressive piece of golf design and construction ever in South Africa. Fancourt owner Dr Hasso Plattner, who took a very hands-on function in the creation, commissioned a golf course, which would not only be a thorough test for every golfer, but would also rank among the top courses in the world.
Player’s design team spent months studying the classic links courses of Scotland and Ireland and then, armed with inspiration from the best that those countries had to offer, embarked on the ambitious task of recreating some of their finest holes to make a genuine links test on what was once an airfield.
The result is awe-inspiring and has elicited praise from some of the world’s finest golfers – The Links was the host venue for the 2003 Presidents Cup, which ended in an historic tie after a dramatic play-off between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. In early 2005, it was the host venue for the Women’s World Cup of Golf, which was won by the diminutive duo of Rui Kitada and Ai Miyzato of Japan.
In December 2005 The Links hosted the SAA Open, the world’s second-oldest national Open Championship.
The Links at Fancourt is a private club, with play restricted to members and their invited guests. There are limited times available to guests staying at Fancourt’s hotel – booking is essential.
There is little doubt that a round at The Links is a special experience, enhanced greatly by the expert caddies at the club. These caddies are among the best in the world and are sure to assist any standard of golfer negotiate his or her way around The Links.
When playing The Links, it is difficult to believe that one is not in Scotland or Ireland, until, that is, one notices the imposing Outeniqua mountain range that rises impressively in the background.
Home to The Presidents Cup 2003
PRESIDENTS CUP 2003 - The biggest golfing event in the history of South African golf - Four days of roller-coaster golf featuring shots of breathtaking quality on the brutally tough par 73 layout, finally ended with the US and the Internationals agreeing to share the trophy in the gathering darkness.
The dramatic and unprecedented events played out in front of 20 000 golf fans - plus an estimated 800 million worldwide TV audience - on The Links Golf Course at Fancourt.
Fancourt owner Dr Hasso Plattner, the man who gave the financial backing to the tournament, described the dramatic finish as "just perfect".
After 34 matches between the best two teams in the world, and three exhilarating play-off holes between the best two players, the tournament Cup was declared a tie. In the spirit of The Presidents Cup the teams agreed that the trophy would be shared and hence there would be no defending champion at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in 2005.
The Presidents Cup, which was held from 18 - 23 November 2003, pits the top 12 golfers in the United States against the top 12 golfers from the rest of the world, excluding Europe.
It was a fabulous week and one widely praised by the large contingent of foreign journalists. There were huge crowds, excellent facilities and the golf leading up to the sudden death play-off at the foot of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains was nothing short of brilliant.
With President Thabo Mbeki as host, The 2003 Presidents Cup showcased South Africa like no other sporting event in the country before. "It is a great honour for Fancourt to host the first prestigious Presidents Cup on African soil," the Plattners said in a joint statement after the announcement in 2000 that the event would take place at Fancourt.
The Presidents Cup was first held in 1994 in the United States, and takes place every two years. The internationals lifted the 1998 title the only other time matches were held away from American soil, winning 20 ½ points to 11 ½ at Royal Melbourne.
THE PRESIDENTS CUP -- 2003
The Links Course at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate George, Western Cape Province, South Africa
Par: 36-37-73; Yards: 6,858 Nov. 20-23, 2003
Honorary Chairman: President Thabo Mbeki
Captains: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player
DAY ONE
Foursomes - International 3 ½, United States 2 ½
Nick Price/Mike Weir (Int.) def. David Toms/Phil Mickelson, 1-up
Retief Goosen/Vijay Singh (Int.) def. Chris DiMarco/Jerry Kelly, 3 and 2
Davis Love III/Kenny Perry (U.S.) def. Peter Lonard/Tim Clark, 4 and 2
Ernie Els/Adam Scott (Int.) def. Justin Leonard/Jim Furyk, 1-up
Jay Haas/Fred Funk (U.S.) halved with Robert Allenby/Stephen Leaney
Tiger Woods/Charles Howell III (U.S.) def. Stuart Appleby/K.J. Choi, 4 and 3
DAY TWO
Four-ball - United States 3, International 2
Allenby/Weir (Int.) def. Mickelson/Toms, 3 and 1
Perry/Love III (U.S.) def. Goosen/Choi, 2 and 1
Furyk/Haas (U.S.) def. Appleby/Scott, 6 and 5
DiMarco/Leonard (U.S.) def. Singh/Price, 1 up
Els/Clark (Int.) def. Woods/Howell III, 5 and 3
Totals: International 5 ½, United States 5 ½
Foursomes - United States 4; International 1
Perry/Kelly (U.S.) def. Choi/Lonard, 2 and 1
Funk/Toms (U.S.) def. Allenby/Leaney, 4 and 3
Woods/Howell III (U.S.) def. Clark/Goosen, 1 up
Els/Scott (Int.) def. DiMarco/Mickelson, 1 up
Furyk/Leonard (U.S.) def. Singh/Weir, 5 and 4
Totals: United States 9 ½, International 6 ½
DAY THREE
Four-ball - International 6, United States 0
Lonard/Leaney (Int.) def. Funk/Mickelson, 2 and 1
Els/Clark (Int.) def. Furyk/Haas, 3 and 2
Scott/Choi (Int.) def. Perry/Kelly, 5 and 4
Singh/Goosen (Int.) def. Woods/Howell, 2 and 1
Weir/Allenby (Int.) def. DiMarco/Leonard, 1 up
Price/Appleby (Int.) def Love/Toms, 2 and 1
Totals: International 12 ½, United States 9 ½
DAY FOUR Singles - United States 7 ½, International 4 ½
Furyk (U.S.) def. Weir, 3 and 1
Kelly (U.S.) def. Clark, 1 up
Perry (U.S.) def. Price, 1 up
Choi (Int.) def. Leonard, 4 and 2
Howell (U.S.) def. Scott, 5 and 4
Haas (U.S.) def. Leaney, 4 and 3
Goosen (Int.) def. Mickelson, 2 and 1
Lonard (Int.) def. Funk, 4 and 3
DiMarco (U.S.) def. Appleby, 1 up
Singh (Int.) def. Toms, 4 and 3
Woods (U.S.) def. Els, 4 and 3
Love (U.S.) halved with Allenby
Final Total: International 17, United States 17
Playoff: Woods (U.S.) and Els (Int.) halved three sudden-death holes with pars. The match was called because of darkness and deemed a tie. The teams opted to share The Presidents Cup for the next two years.
Contact Fancourt
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