Civility rules at Presidents Cup

GAINESVILLE, Va. -- There is plenty of history at this Presidents Cup, mostly the monuments and landmarks around the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, and the roadside markers that tell about key moments from the Civil War.

These matches are mostly about being civil.

"This is a game. That's all it is," U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus said. "It's not a war."

The reference was to the Ryder Cup, which took on a life of its own over the last two decades with marketing ploys such as the "War on the Shore" and the "Battle at Brookline." It made the Ryder Cup one of the marquee golf events in the world, but brought along plenty of acrimony.

That's hard to find at the Presidents Cup.

When Nicklaus and International team captain Gary Player sat at a table with their assistants to talk about the first session of pairings, Ian Baker-Finch pulled out a stack of 5-pound British notes with Nicklaus' image on the front.

"Jack, I've got 100 5-pound notes. Can you sign them for me?" Baker-Finch said.

"Now?" Nicklaus replied. "I've got nothing better to do."

Turns out he only had 18 bills, but Nicklaus sat at the table and scribbled away until it was his turn to talk.

The Presidents Cup once was described as the United States against a bunch of guys from Florida, which is only a slight exaggeration. Most players from the International team (every country but Europe is eligible) have homes in the United States and play primarily on the PGA Tour.

They see each other just about every week. Vijay Singh lives a mile or so away from Jim Furyk and Fred Funk in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. They will be opponents today, with the Furyk-Funk team taking on Singh and Mark Hensby of Australia (who lives in Arizona) in the second of six alternate-shot matches.

But don't get the idea this is a hit-and-giggle affair.

"Just because the match is friendly doesn't mean that it can't be intense," Furyk said. "These matches have always had a great spirit to them. We all have a lot of pride. If one side is going to win this week, you can bet that one of us is going to be crowing a little bit, all winter, talking about the matches."

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Presidents Cup Pairings

Today at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Va.; Yardage: 7,335; Par: 72

Foursomes

12:10 p.m. -- Tiger Woods and Fred Couples, United States, vs. Adam Scott and Retief Goosen, International.

12:20 p.m. -- Fred Funk and Jim Furyk, United States, vs. Vijay Singh and Mark Hensby, International.

12:30 p.m. -- Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMaraco, United States, vs. Nick O'Hern and Tim Clark, International.

12:40 p.m. -- Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank, United States, vs. Peter Lonard and Stuart Appleby, International.

12:50 p.m. -- Davis Love III and Kenny Perry, United States, vs. Michael Campbell and Angel Cabrera, International.

1 p.m. -- David Toms and Stewart Cink, United States, vs. Trevor Immelman and Mike Weir, International.