USPGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem believes the Presidents Cup has a bright future, whether or not the American players embrace the event.

"In golf, things evolve over years and years and years," Finchem said in announcing that the 2002 Presidents Cup would be held in South Africa. "If you start to act like the typical American corporate executive who's worried about quarterly results, you're not going to get very far in golf. You've got to take the long view."

Finchem appeared annoyed when questioned whether he was concerned that some of the leading Americans were reluctant to travel to South Africa in two years.

"I'm quite confident that when we get to South Africa, the teams that will be fielded will generate a great match. It will have a huge impact on golf and sport in South Africa, and the image of the Presidents Cup.

"I'm much more interested in that than whether any one particular player, or two, or five, feel for whatever reason that the trip doesn't work in their schedules."

Asked specifically whether he would be concerned if Tiger Woods didn't play, Finchem continued: "I want Tiger Woods to play (but) speculating about any individual player two years in advance is speculative and not very productive. I'm more concerned about the direction and development of the Presidents Cup."

Woods wasn't available to comment on whether he would commit to play in 2002, but Davis Love refused to do so. "I can't tell you what will happen in two years time," Love said.

It's likely the majority of the International team will return in 2002, just as eight of the victorious 1998 team returned for this year's event.

Greg Norman, who will be 47 by then, said he was looking forward to the next go-round. "I've got plenty of golf left in me," he said. "I'm not going to put myself on the backburner yet."