Premiership / Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup might be the first thing on Aaron Baddeley's mind this week, but his beloved Geelong footy club is never far from his thoughts.

It helps that every time he reaches the green he marks his ball with a Cats penny. "I mark my ball with a Geelong footy club coin. I've used it for about two years now," he said, responding to BackPageLead's question.

He's prepared to put his AFL credentials on the line too, with a busman's holiday to the cattery in December. "I'm going to catch up with the fellas and do some preseason training," he said. "Bit of running around, bit of kicking the footy, trying to keep up with them - trying not to throw up!"

He hopes to have the support of a few of his club's Premiership stars this week out on the Royal Melbourne course. "I think Tommy Hawkins and Stevie J said they were coming out," Baddeley added.

His love of both sports made it impossible for him to separate the joy of a Premiership to that of a Presidents Cup. "Playing in a premiership side would be special. Those guys work so hard and how they've dominated since 2007 has been pretty impressive," he said of Geelong. "And to win a Presidents Cup here in Melbourne would be something you'd remember for the rest of your life."

If the internationals do win a few ears will be trained on the international sheds to hear if Baddeley can convince his multinational colleagues to sing Geelong's celebratory club song. If he does, it's unlikely Geoff Ogilvy, a mad Sainter, will join in.

Scott putts Woods pairing out of mind

At 12pm on Wednesday the majority of Royal Melbourne's attention was trained on the captains announcing Thursday's first list of pairings. About one hundred metres away, impervious to the commotion they were part of, Adam Scott and Steve Williams went through their paces on the putting green.

The pair's dynamic is fascinating. The perception that caddies are glorified bell-boys could not be further from the truth in this relationship. Scott, affable, laid back, introverted, spends most of his time with a smile on his face and the air of a man without a care in the world. Williams, taller, broader and more muscular, resembles a boxing trainer, always looking for the minute edge he can give his client.

For the record, Scott putted abysmally. Not that you could tell from his body language. Williams however loomed on the periphery of Scott's vision like the anti-ghost of Christmas future. His brooding presence a constant reminder of the 10 per cent cheques Scott is expected to cash.

Shark cashes in

Even if Greg Norman fails to improve the international team's tally of Presidents Cup victories this week, he is sure to improve his own bank balance. The Official Merchandise tent is a sea of multicoloured shark logos with every line of branded golf paraphernalia imaginable on offer, for the right price.

A few marquees down in the wine tent there is more evidence of the shark's commercial tendrils. Here we are told that Greg Norman Wine Estates is the ‘Preferred Wine of The 2011 Presidents Cup.' Although not preferred enough to be served at the official banquet, with a stablemate uncorked for that auspicious occasion.

Thanks

The organisation of The Presidents Cup is of military precision, thanks largely to the 1500 volunteers staffing all aspects of the event. From practice range ball shaggers to on-course marshals to security staff, every base is covered.

Recruited from staff here at the Royal Melbourne augmented with other golf aficionados from within Victoria, some are more likely to catch the action than others. The designated ‘meet and greet' volunteer at Tullamarine, for example, will have more chance spotting Tiger Airways than Tiger Woods.

Happy Gilmore quote of the day

Eight year old: "Daddy, what's the 19th hole?"

Daddy: "Daddy's happy place."