South Korea to host 2015 Presidents Cup

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem (AFP/David Cannon)

AKRON: The Presidents Cup golf matches will make their Asian debut in 2015 when US and International teams will meet in South Korea, US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Wednesday.

The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, 64 km west of Seoul at Incheon, was selected to be the host for the biennial showdown between the American and non-European squads in a Ryder Cup-style format.

The 2013 edition of the event will be staged in October at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, where 18-time major champion Nicklaus plays host to the US PGA Memorial tournament every year.

The Korean event will be the fifth Presidents Cup staged beyond US borders after South Africa hosted at Fancourt in 2003, Canada's Royal Montreal hosted in 2007 and Australia's Royal Melbourne hosted in 1998 and 2011.

Yang Yong-Eun, the first Asian man to win a major title, and K.J. Choi both played on the Internationals at the 2011 Presidents Cup, the first time more than one South Korean player had qualified for the team.

"We're very honoured and proud that Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea has been selected for The Presidents Cup 2015," Nicklaus said. "The facility makes for an ideal location to host The Presidents Cup. We're very pleased that the PGA Tour felt the same after evaluating its options throughout Korea."

The par-72, 7,413-yard layout designed by Nicklaus opened in 2010 with the first official 50-and-over Champions Tour event staged in Asia. The course has also hosted Korean men's and women's events.

"This will be a tremendous opportunity to showcase on a world stage the beauty of Korea and the country's passion for the game of golf," Nicklaus said.

"Having been fortunate to be involved in several Presidents Cup matches in the past, I know how uniquely special this event is and how it represents to a global audience all that is great about the game of golf."

Incheon will also host next year's Asian Games.

"We are thrilled to take The Presidents Cup there, which is not only a milestone in the event's history but also a significant step in further elevating the game of golf in Korea," Finchem said.