'Back to the drawing board' for Internationals

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The Internationals had to swallow another loss, but if players like Ryo Ishikawa are their future, things are looking up.

SAN FRANCISCO -- As the first-time captain of the International team, Greg Norman enjoyed building friendships and bonding with his 12 players from all over the globe. These past seven days at Harding Park were special for the Shark, and he left no doubt Sunday that he wants to continue as Captain two years from now at Royal Melbourne in his native Australia.

But as a guy who enjoys winning, Norman obviously didn't enjoy the results. No matter how much unity developed in the International Team room, it didn't manifest itself in the final score. For the fifth consecutive Presidents Cup, the Internationals failed to beat the Americans and, in fact, even failed to close the gap from two years ago. The final scoreboard -- U.S. 19½, Internationals 14½ -- was the same outcome in Montreal.

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Eight Presidents Cups have now been played, and the Internationals have won just once, along with the tie in 2003. And outside of a one-point loss in 1996, the Internationals haven't really been in sniffing distance down the stretch in Sunday singles.

Obviously, the Internationals face some challenges that the Americans get to avoid. Norman's players are spread out all over the world, thus requiring more draining travel schedules. And the Americans get to play this type of competition every year, with the Ryder Cup in alternative years, providing valuable experience. Those are the same reasons brought up every time the International team gets beaten.

"I don't think any of us 12 guys look across there and think that they are better than we are," said Canadian Mike Weir. "That's not it at all. ... The experience factor, maybe it's just the one thing that has gotten them over the hump."

But at some point, the International team must overcome those obstacles. They must find a way to be more competitive and to start winning some Presidents Cups. They must find a way to beat an American team that boasts the world's top three players, each of whom played like it the past four days at Harding Park. If changes in the way they approach things are needed, so be it. Otherwise, the Americans will just continue to romp to five-point victories.

"We have to pretty much go back to the drawing board, because they're a pretty well-oiled team, and it's hard to beat that kind of team with momentum," said International veteran Ernie Els, who has played in six Presidents Cups and will likely be up for captaincy consideration whenever his PGA TOUR career ends.

So what exactly can change for the Internationals to emerge victorious in 2011?

Obviously, having the home-course advantage will be huge. The Internationals' only Presidents Cup win came at Royal Melbourne in 1998, and it wasn't even close -- the margin of victory was nine points.

That was the first time the Presidents Cup had been played outside of North America. The only other time came at Fancourt in South Africa, where the Internationals forged a tie. Obviously, the long-distance travel had an impact on the Americans, just as it did with the Internationals the six other times.

"At least they have to get on the jet and experience a little bit of jet-lag themselves," Els said.

In addition, some of the Internationals' younger players will have a little more seasoning. Camilo Villegas was a non-factor this week in his first Presidents Cup, but it's been a downer for him much of the season. He'll get back to the form he showed at the end of 2008. Adam Scott has been in an even longer funk, but he has too much talent to stay there. Tim Clark showed the kind of tenacity that can impact the entire room, and he should be a thorn in the American side for a few more Presidents Cups.

Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa has more than a few in his future. At just 18, he could be a fixture on the International team for two-plus decades, and making him a Captain's Pick this year allowed him to get his feet wet. Oh, by the way, he also won three of his five matches, and didn't seem the least bit fazed after he and partner Geoff Ogilvy lost to Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in Thursday's Foursomes.

"You have no idea the amount of poise he's got," Norman said in singing Ishikawa's praises.

"... To bounce back the way he's bounced back ... you've got to be in the sport to know how good that is."

Ishikawa has been tearing up the Japan Tour, and he still has eight tournaments left in his home country. But at some point soon, he plans to step up and take on the big boys. Expect it to be sooner rather than later.

"Obviously in the end, I would like to play on the PGA TOUR and be able to play with the guys that I played with this week," Ishikawa said. "Also, I want to be able to play on The Presidents Cup team next time that it comes around."

From the Internationals' perspective, that may have been the best news of the week. Add a few more players like Ishikawa, and perhaps this one-sided competition will start to even out. If nothing else, they'll need the young guys to start filling the void when established International stars like Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Els (who turns 40 this week) are no longer around to carry the team.

For now, though, the sting of another decisive Presidents Cup loss remains. No wonder that for the International team, 2011 -- and the comfortable environment in Australia -- can't get here fast enough.