Insider: Rookies don't have luxury of easing into competition

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In most professional sports, a team's manager will do their best to protect a rookie from playoff pressure. A baseball manager isn't likely to give a rookie the ball to start the deciding game of the World Series. A football coach isn't likely to call on a rookie receiver to be the target for a crucial fourth-down pass. A basketball coach isn't likely to ask a rookie to take the game-winning shot at the buzzer. Even greats like Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan were allowed time to grow into their roles as stars before they were expected to produce in the spotlight.

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The rookies who are competing this week in the Presidents Cup matches in Australia don't really have that luxury. The six rookies on the United States team and the four on the International squad won't be able to hide from the spotlight. By the nature of the competition, they're right in the middle of it.

And for the American rookies, they'll have to find a way to adjust to playing a long way from home against a crowd that will definitely be leaning in the other direction. While no one expects the homestanding Aussies to be anything less than gracious, there's no doubt about national pride taking a role at Royal Melbourne. It's something the new guys will have to deal with.

"The guys may ask questions, but the whole idea is just make them feel comfortable," Tiger Woods said. "This is a different atmosphere. We are not at home. We are on the road and this atmosphere will be electric down here."

There were only two rookies on the 2009 Presidents Cup team at Harding Park in San Francisco: Sean O'Hair and Anthony Kim, neither are members this year. O'Hair was paired with veterans like Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry and Hunter Mahan in the foursomes and four-ball matches and went 1-2-1, then hammered Robert Allenby 5 and 3 in singles. Kim was paired with Mickelson and Jim Furyk and went 2-1-0, then whipped Ernie Els 6 and 4 in singles.

There were four rookies in 2007 at Royal Montreal: Zach Johnson, Woody Austin, Lucas Glover and Mahan. All held their own in the team matches -- and Austin gave us the unforgettable Aquaman moment -- but each lost in their singles match.

While there six players will be making their Presidents Cup debuts, three of those were on the 2010 Ryder Cup team: Johnson, Watson and Kuchar. That experience is invaluable.

"I don't feel like a veteran, but I'm certainly past the rookie stage now," Kuchar said. "I feel comfortable being here."

U.S. team captain Fred Couples is trying a different approach with his first-timers in the first set of foursome matches on Thursday. Couples is sending out three groups of President Cup rookies against International pairings that match youth with experience. Watson and Simpson will play Els and Ryo Ishikawa. Haas and Watney will play Geoff Ogilvy and Charl Schwartzel. Johnson and Kuchar will play Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day.

All six of the first-timers on the U.S. team bring impressive credentials. Simpson won twice on the PGA TOUR and was the No. 2 money earner. Watney won twice in 2012 and had 10 top-10 finishes. Haas won the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup playoffs. Johnson has nearly won two major championships and Watson was runner-up at the 2010 PGA. Kuchar is a model of consistency on the TOUR.

In the end it all comes down to performing, whether it's the first time in international competition or the 17th time, like Phil Mickelson.

"I don't think it matters if you've played on a team or not," said Phil Mickelson. "We have guys that play spectacular and I think guys that are playing well. If you play well you're going to play well whether it's a PGA TOUR event or whether it's the Presidents Cup or next year's Ryder Cup, what have you.

"I think it's just more important how the guys are playing rather than what they're playing in. But we want to make it fun for everybody. We want everybody to feel comfortable and excited to be here and enjoy their time, not only on the golf course, but off it as well."

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.