Greg Norman has expressed a burning desire to captain the International Presidents Cup team against the United States at Royal Melbourne in 2011.

And the player who ruled as No.1 for 331 straight weeks at the height of his career has also urged US PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem to ensure the biennial Presidents Cup continues to move around the world.

"One of the greatest feathers in my cap would be to take a team to Australia, especially to Royal Melbourne, one of my favourite golf courses in the world, it would make me proud to come down there," said Norman in a teleconference from his home in South Florida.

"It would be a huge boost to our country golf-wise with golf probably struggling a little bit.

"I know 2011 is a long way away.

"But if we can focus in and get a victory (in the US next year) and go back there (to Royal Melbourne) and defend it I'd be very proud.

Norman earlier announced New Zealander Frank Nobilo as his captain's assistant for the Internationals clash with Fred Couples' Americans in next October's President's Cup clash at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco.

Former US tour player Nobilo works as an analyst for the Golf Channel in America and so is in touch with the players and their form.

The two friends were Presidents Cup teammates for the Internationals in 1996 and again in 1998 when the Internationals stunned a Tiger Woods led US team in a huge upset at Royal Melbourne - still their only win.

While Norman's focus is totally on 2009, he said he would love the opportunity to stay on and either defend or regain the Presidents Cup when it returned to Royal Melbourne.

"I'll be honest with you," said Norman when asked if he'd come home for 2011 if the captaincy was offered to him.

"My position right from the beginning was if I was ever going to be a captain of a Presidents Cup team my heart and soul really focused on it being in Australia.

"When I had a meeting with Commissioner Finchem at Pebble Beach this year about the 2009 Presidents Cup that was obviously our discussion point.

"There are rules and regulations but I voiced my thoughts and how I'd love to be in my home country in 2011.

"We'll see how that plays out but my focus in 2009.

"Whether I win or lose, hopefully I will ave an opportunity to defend or come back and win it (in 2011).

"We've seen that in the past with Gary Player, we've seen it in the past with Jack Nicklaus but I don't make that decision."

Norman said it was imperative the Presidents Cup continued to move globally.

"I've just been on the phone to Commissioner Finchem today discussing that very subject," said Norman.

"It has to move around. I'd love to see it go to New Zealand or Fiji or even Japan, even India.

"You have to promote to game of golf on a global basis. This is the Presidents Cup, international team against the United States.

"It would be a sad day if they decided to keep it at the home of one place and I think it's the responsibility of the Tour to move it around as much as they can."

AAP