Wardrobe is no small concern to a man known with his own successful line of apparel and as much for his golf style as his golf accomplishments.

Another style-conscious player, Fred Couples, will captain the United States.

“I’ve got Anthony Kim and Kenny Perry. They’re about 26 years apart,” said Couples. “Anthony Kim wears his pants down near his ankles and Kenny Perry wears ’em up by his chest. And I’m right with Kenny Perry, so I’m not picking on [him].”

Norman, Couples, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, and several golf industry movers and shakers were in Washington Wednesday for National Golf Day. They reminded Congress of the monetary impact made by a sport that generates as much income as the motion picture and publishing industries combined, and who’s tournaments contributed $124 million to charity in 2008.

Taking a break for lunch at the National Press Club, the subject was the Presidents Cup competition, now in its eighth go-round, matching the best players in the United States against the best from the rest of the world, excluding Europe.

Watching the Ryder Cup, contested every two years by teams from the U.S. and Europe, whetted the appetite of Norman, who is from Australia, for a similar competition in which he would be eligible.

“The experience of not having that experience was a complete driving force,” said Norman of his role in helping institute the Presidents Cup in the early 1990s. “I knew it was going to be difficult É The Americans had to play another event.”

The U.S. had a 5-1-1 record in the series. This year’s event will be played Oct. 6-11 at Harding Park, a public course in San Francisco.

“It’s very significant. We have to reach out to every young player who wants to play the game of golf,” said Norman, who was joined by new wife, tennis legend Chris Evert. “I, like Freddie, grew up playing on a public golf course. Without that opportunity, I would not be in the position I am in today.”

The subject of another golf icon who grew up on public courses, was raised Wednesday. The world’s No. 1 player, Tiger Woods, has always participated, but has never shown a strong interest in international competition.

“He’s going to be a great teammate for everybody. He’s going to be in San Francisco,” said Couples, one of Woods’ best friends on tour. “He’ll be playing maybe seven out of 10 weeks, with the Presidents Cup ending [it]. A lot of guys will be playing a lot of golf. I expect Tiger to be right there. We’ve had a lot of laughs over the years — mostly him laughing at me. But I’ll have the last laugh when he arrives, me telling him what to do.”

Couples addressed a more pressing concern.

“I’m scared to death of the wives,” said Couples. “[We’re] trying to figure out great gifts for [them].”

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