Sport: President's Cup shaping as battle of titans

While Graham Henry keep us guessing for a few days yet about the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup line-up, there's an equally intriguing selection puzzle brewing in the golfing world.

It's over the composition of the US and International (non-European) teams to do battle around Royal Melbourne in November's President's Cup.

The top 10 in each are selected by virtue of world rankings at next month's deadline, with two others decided by a captain's pick a week later.

American boss Fred Couples has already hinted TV ratings drawcard Tiger Woods is a lock for one those discretionary slots, with PGA champ Keegan Bradley an obvious favourite for the other.

Aussie captain Greg Norman, though, has so many options outside his top-10 you could throw a dart at 20 names and still feel confident you'd picked a winning line-up.

Whoever fronts, you can guarantee it'll be the best collection of players assembled this close to the Bay since the competition was held at the same venue in 1998.

That, incidentally, was also the last time the Internationals beat the Americans, with Kiwis Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner playing key roles.

This week, at least, the TAB isn't predicting a repeat, however. Kiwi bookies had the Americans, looking to restore some pride after losing the Ryder Cup and their domination of the world rankings, solid $1.62 favourites.

But in a two-horse race, the $2.20 on offer for the Internationals is too juicy to pass up.

In-form Aussie hotshots Adam Scott and Jason Day, pictured, lead the Internationals' charge, both of whom are right at home on Royal Melbourne's tight fairways and lightning-fast greens.

Masters champ Charl Schwartzel is next highest ranked for the Internationals, followed by South Korean K.J. Choi and countryman Kyung-tae Kim who leapfrogged into contention with a tie for sixth in Scott's Bridgestone Invitational.

The depth of Norman's options for the 11th and 12th berths extends all the way down to 2008 Masters champ Trevor Immelman, riding a solid comeback from wrist injury but still languishing back in 37th.

Even out-of-form Presidents' regular Vijay Singh - the only international to play in all eight of the previous biannual matchplay shootouts - is in serious danger of watching this one on the telly with his 17th ranking.

More than likely Norman will take a "horses-for-courses" approach and plump for two Aussies as his captain's picks, namely either Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby or Aaron Baddeley.

Now that Tim Clark has made himself unavailable through injury - Norman has picked the South African as his captain's assistant along with Nobilo - the trio is also the next highest ranked in terms of points.

The ever-prickly Allenby, who fired his 30th caddy in 20 years on the circuit via text this week, is a long-timer buddy of Norman and should have the inside running with his recent form surge.

Catch him in the right mood and the five-time Presidents' Cup veteran is also a headline-writer's dream.

Two years ago, after being thumped by Anthony Kim in a singles' clash, he lashed out, calling the young American the "loosest cannon in the team" and the "current John Daly".