Presidents Cup Trivial Pursuit

SAN FRANCISCO -- Anything with the name Presidents Cup sounds like it is ripe for a Golf Czar appointment.

Are you qualified to rule over this week's PGA Tour team matches between the United States and an International squad of non-Europeans that tees off Thursday at Harding Park Golf Club?

Take this test and decide for yourself.

1. Although a municipal course, Harding Park is not new to big-event golf. What was its role in 1998 when the U.S. Open was played in San Francisco?

a.) Tournament site where Lee Janzen shot even-par to win his second major championship.

b.) Used as conveniently located spectator parking lot by nearby tournament host Olympic Club.

c.) Leased by NBC as storage site for Johnny Miller's make-up trailer.

d.) Site of John Daly hot tub party.

Answer: B. Maybe not Harding Park's proudest moment until your realize what it costs to park in San Francisco. And talk about some good driving holes.

2.What exactly is the Presidents Cup?

a.) Barack Obama's coffee mug.

b.) Protection for those places no Secret Service Agent should ever have to go.

c.) Thermal tumbler guaranteed not to sweat.

d.) A four-day competition of 34 golf matches-11 foursomes (alternate shot), 11 four-ball (better ball) matches and 12 singles.

Answer: D. It's a golf event, but we're not sure there's a totally wrong answer here.

3. On the way to America's victory in the 2007 Presidents Cup played in Montreal, Canada, Woody Austin earned celebrity status by hitting a shot from the edge of a hazard, losing his balance and falling face first into the cold water. What did teammate Phil Mickelson immediately begin calling Austin?

a.) Clumsy Dufus.

b.) All Wet.

c.) Aqua Man.

d.) Michael Phelps.

Answer: C. Austin even joined in the laugh by showing up the next day wearing a dive mask.

4. Before teeing off against Tiger Woods in a singles match at the 2000 Presidents Cup, Vijay Singh thought it funny when his caddie showed up with "Tiger Who?" printed across his cap. Did Singh ever get an introduction?

a.) Say hello to Mr. I Took You Two-and-One.

b.) Better question -- have they spoken since?

c.) Oh, that wacky Veeg.

d.) Hey, it's not like he got Rory Sabbatini'd.

Answer: All of the above.

5. The 2002 Presidents Cup played in South Africa finished in a tie when a sudden-death playoff singles match between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els was never completed. Why?

a.) With darkness falling, captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player had to either call the match a tie or come back Monday morning to continue play.

b.) It was the previous administration's fault.

c.) The G-5s were already warming up on the runway.

d.) Vijay didn't know the name of the guy he was supposed to play.

Answer: A. Nicklaus and Player agreed to call it "a show of sportsmanship" that would be good for the game. Everybody else just wanted to go home.

6. What do members of the victorious Presidents Cup team win?

a.) Open tab at their favorite Capital Grill.

b.) Barack Obama coffee mugs.

c.) Weekend at Bernie's.

d.) Not a dime.

Answer: D. There is no purse for the players. Net revenues are divided into equal shares that the players and captains designate for charities or golf-related projects of their choice.

7. Why is it called the Presidents Cup?

a.) Ryder Cup was already taken.

b.) It sounds better than the Vice Presidents Bowl.

c.) The PGA Tour created the thing, so commissioner Tim Finchem can call it anything he wants.

d.) You got to admit, it has a ring.

Answer: C. Former U.S. President Gerald Ford presided over the first Presidents Cup as Honorary Chairman, setting a precedent that was followed by other world leaders.

8. Who are the only two golfers -- one from each side -- who, after teeing off Thursday, will have played in every Presidents Cup competition?

a.) Davis Love III and Retief Goosen.

b.) Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.

c.) Tiger Woods and Mike Weir

d. ) Bill Clinton and Al Gore

Answer: Mickelson and Singh have never missed a Presidents Cup. But Mickelson owns an 11-13-9 record and Singh is 14-15-8.

9. Harding Park opened in 1925 and was named to honor what great American?

a.) Tanya Harding.

b.) Warren G. Harding.

c.) Nancy Kerrigan.

d.) John Harding.

Answer: B. The 29th President of the United States died of a heart attack two years earlier while visiting in San Francisco.

10. The International team trails the United States 1-5-1, with its only victory coming in 1998 in Melbourne, Australia. What was most significant about the home team's 20½-11½ victory?

a.) Beer.

b.) Vijay Singh demanded everyone wear name tags.

c.) Victory party catered by Outback Steakhouse.

d.) The trophy was already decided before the week's most anticipated match -- No. 1 Tiger Woods vs. hometown hero Greg Norman in singles -- was played.

Answer: D. It took all 18 holes for Woods to defeat Norman 1-up.