Ogilvy will join Captain Els for a second tour as a captain’s assistant, after being selected by Nick Price for the 2017 event. Ogilvy played on three consecutive International Presidents Cup Teams (2007, 2009, 2011), where he accumulated a 7-6-1 record. The local Melburnian has eight career PGA Tour victories, including the 2006 U.S. Open and three World Golf Championship titles. Ogilvy also won the Australian PGA in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2010.

“I was a member of the 2011 International Team the last time the Presidents Cup was played here in Melbourne, and although we lost, it was an honour to play alongside Ernie Els. It will be special to return in front of the best sports fans at one of the greatest courses in the world in Royal Melbourne,” Ogilvy said. “Playing in the Presidents Cup is a highlight of my career. It is a special week to share the team room and the unique atmosphere with the players of the International Team. Ernie represents everything that the International Team and the Presidents Cup stand for as our captain. His Hall of Fame career speaks for itself as one of the best to ever play the game. He has been an incredible teammate off the course and his charitable efforts extend far beyond the ropes. It will be an honour to be one of his assistants.”

Els will select two additional captain’s assistants in the spring of 2019. With the ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf being held in Melbourne, and Els visiting Melbourne to mark the one-year countdown to the 2019 event, it was fitting to make the announcement that Ogilvy will be joining the team’s leadership.

Els and Ogilvy both served as Captain's Assistants under Nick Price in 2017. PHOTO: Rob Carr/Getty Images.

“Geoff is the perfect selection as a captain’s assistant for our team,” Els said of the appointment. “His love for the Presidents Cup is only matched by his love for Australia and Royal Melbourne. His knowledge of the golf course, his experience with this team, his relationships with our players and his overall passion for the game will be vital. This is an important time for the International Team, and Geoff will be an invaluable key to our success.” 

The return to Melbourne will mark the third time in the biennial event’s 25-year history it has been held at the renowned Sandbelt course, the event previously held at Royal Melbourne in 1998 and 2011.

Melbourne also holds the distinction as the site of the lone International victory in 1998, which saw Peter Thomson’s team defeat Jack Nicklaus’ U.S. Team, 20.5 to 11.5. In 2011, Fred Couples led the United States to a 19-15 win over Greg Norman and the Internationals. The 1998 event was also held in December, a date that traditionally works well with other golf tournaments held in Australia. 

Discovery Inc, the PGA Tour and Channel Nine also announced today that Nine will bring the 2019 Presidents Cup to life for viewers in Australia when Els and United States Team Captain Tiger Woods bring the unique team competition to Royal Melbourne.

The broadcast agreement provides Nine with the free-to-air rights to more than 27 hours of live competition throughout the tournament.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Discovery and the PGA Tour on this incredible event. It is golf’s ultimate test – America versus the rest of the world, where the prize money is pride and bragging rights,” Nine’s Director of Sport Tom Malone said. “With Tiger and Ernie as captains, the stakes have never been higher, and you can guarantee the focus of the sporting world will be on Royal Melbourne.”

“The Presidents Cup is a showcase of everything that golf stands for from the thrilling competition, to the sportsmanship shown by the two teams to the charitable impact that will be created by the event for Australia and throughout the world,” Executive Director of the Presidents Cup Matt Kamienski added. “Nine are perfect partners for our domestic programming to help us bring these elements of the event to life in front of the best sporting fans in the world.”