New Zealand's Danny Lee has received the golfing equivalent of a 'hospital pass' and will play United States world No.1 Jordan Spieth in the opening foursomes at the Presidents Cup in South Korea.
Lee is paired with Australian Marc Leishman in the International team and will compete in the foursomes against Spieth and big-hitting Dustin Johnson.
In the foursomes players hit alternate shots with the same ball.
The Presidents Cup, which is played for every two years by the United States and a team of international players minus Europeans, continues on Friday and Saturday with foursome and four-ball fixtures before 12 singles matches on Sunday.
The United States have been the dominant force in the Cup, winning eight of the 10 previous editions with one tie.
Their only defeat came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.
Spieth, a captain's pick two years ago, has blossomed into the world's best player this year, claiming two majors among his five wins and ending the year with a flourish with victory at the Tour Championship last month.
Danny Lee is relaxed ahead of his President's Cup debut. Photo: PGA
Lee is ranked 36th in the world and has made the cut only once at a major, while Leishman, a spot below in the rankings, came close at the British Open this year, finishing tied for second behind Zach Johnson.
Lee, who was born in Korea but moved to New Zealand as a youngster, did not seem overly worried about playing in his first Presidents Cup with the world's best player on the opposite team.
"It's going to be fun. We played quite a bunch during this year," he said of Spieth. "But it's a team game, not a single game this week. I'm going to do my best to help the team."
- Reuters