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GW Monday: Greg Norman's Presidents Cup dilemma

September 12, 2011

From the September 12 edition of Golf World Monday:

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The race for the Tour Championship might be the tournament-within-the-tournament at next week's BMW Championship, but with Presidents Cup berths on the line, there's something else to play for.

Much has been made of the U.S. side, with Jim Furyk's apparent safe ascension into the top 10 on points making Fred Couples' picks a bit simpler, but little has been made of Greg Norman's options.

Vijay Singh was T-4 and T-3 in two of his last three starts and is apparently healthy again after having Orthokine therapy treatment in Germany for his back. Singh is currently outside the top 10 and likely deserves a pick provided he doesn't qualify on merit with another high finish at Cog Hill.

Geoff Ogilvy, who is percentage points ahead of Louis Oosthuizen for the final automatic spot, and Robert Allenby are also deserving. What could throw Norman's selection process into disarray is the fact several players with past BMW success could get into the top 10 with high finishes next week. Camilo Villegas won the event in 2008 (albeit at Bellerive in St. Louis) and Aaron Baddeley was second in 2007. Rory Sabbatini has had two top-10s.

An upset by any of that trio could push Ogilvy or Allenby out. Could they play the Presidents Cup in Australia without either Aussie? Stay tuned.

-- John Antonini

(Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)