Former Presidents Cup captain Peter Thomson predicts the International team will claim just its second ever win when it takes on the United States next month at Royal Melbourne.
Thomson, the five-time British Open champion who led the International team to its only win - at Royal Melbourne in 1998 - said Wednesday that Greg Norman's men can repeat the feat at the same venue. ''I fancy the international team.''
The 82-year-old Australian said the Royal Melbourne course will be a difficult one to adapt to for the American players.
''This course takes a fair amount of learning. It's not an easy course by any means,'' Thomson said. ''There will be a noisy crowd and that's a big factor.
''There's enough of the 12 (International) players that are acquainted with the place for a start, and will feel at home in the crowds.''
International team captain Norman selected Melbourne locals Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley as his captain's choices, based on their familiarity with the layout.
While Allenby has a poor match-play record and has not won on the US PGA Tour for a decade, he is a winner at Royal Melbourne.
''It might look easy because it's wide but all the trouble comes at the end of the hole where you have to putt into the cup, on very sloping, slippery greens,'' he said.
