Golf: Woods comes into focus for Presidents Cup

Tiger Woods' putting let him down but his third placing was still his best result against a full field for two years. Photo / Getty Images

International captain Greg Norman plans to rule his team with a proverbial iron fist at this week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Norman says he played a more low key consultative role in his captaincy debut two years ago, when the International team was well beaten.

"At the end of the day you've got to make the decisions. By making those firm decisions, the guys will realise that this is the captain speaking, this is what he wants us to do."

Norman recalls that back in 1998, when the event was last held at Royal Melbourne, International captain Peter Thomson called the shots.

Norman says he did not want to play Tiger Woods in singles on the final day back then, but Thomson didn't care. He matched the two up anyway.

"I did not want to make it the Norman-Woods show," he said. "It sounded to me as if it was more for TV than for the team, because we were so far ahead."

Norman says that two years ago he let his players avoid specific American opponents if that's what they wanted. It won't happen again.

American counterpart Fred Couples, on the other hand, indicated he would take a more relaxed approach.

He was thrilled Woods played so well at the Australian Open, finishing only two strokes behind winner Greg Chalmers.

"Tiger I think is the main concern for everybody [but] he's not really a concern for me," Couples said.

"I just think the world of the guy and I like the way he plays. I had dinner with him last night.

"He was disappointed [with his third round] but not bummed out in the least. He was working on his swing at dinner and thinking about it."

- AAP