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MEDINAH, Ill. – A wry smile creeps across the face of Rory Sabbatini with the mention of the upcoming Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
In another world, the South African native would likely be on the short list of contenders for a spot on countryman Ernie Els’ team in Australia. At age 43, he’s turned back the clock with a remarkably consistent season that has included six top-10 finishes. But that’s only after he switched nationalities to Slovakia, where his wife is from and where he became a naturalized citizen last year.
The move means that, 12 years after Sabbatini represented the International Team at Royal Montreal, he’s not eligible for Els’ squad this time around.