Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed 24 of the world's best golfer's to the Royal Montreal Golf Club today. The golf club -- the oldest in North America -- is the site of this year's Presidents Cup.
The Presidents Cup is a biennial PGA Tour event that teams non-European international golfers against an all-American team. The event is held outside of the U.S. every two years; this is the first time it's being held in Canada.
This year's players include Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Canada's own Mike Weir. Weir says he's happy at the possibility that he may face off against Woods.
"If I'm playing really well, I'd love to play him," he said. "Might be icing on the cake for me if I could get in there and actually have a chance to beat him."
Woods, who was just named the PGA player of the year, says he's looking forward to the potential showdown.
"I've played with Mike a lot over the years and I know he's been through a pretty significant swing change, and he's starting to put it together and play a little better now," he said.
Weir will tee off Thursday, paired with Singh in a foursomes match against Americans Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin. Weir has a 4-1 record against Mickelson in the event, but Mickelson says that's all history.
"The fact that Mike Weir and Vijay Singh form such a great team and are going to have the home crowd, it's going to be a big challenge for Woody and I," said Mickelson. "But it's something that we're excited for and looking forward to because we know what a challenge it is.
The assistant captain for the international team says he wants the fans to show his teammates true Canadian spirit.
"I want the Canadian fans to treat the International Team like the Canadian hockey team," said Ian Baker-Finch. "We are 12 Canadians this week."
Unlike other tournaments with big cash prizes for the winners, the Presidents Cup won't give any individual player a dime. Instead, the players will choose charities around the world that will receive the $3.5 million raised by the tournament.
