Ben Crenshaw may have had busier years, but he can't remember when.
In addition to being captain of the 1999 U.S. Ryder Cup team, Crenshaw has a partnership in a highly respected golf-course architectural business, a beautiful wife, three young daughters and, of course, a career as a PGA Tour golfer, where he has won 19 times.
``I've got a few things on the table,'' Crenshaw said. ``It's fun.''
Crenshaw, 47, will try to lead the U.S. to its first Ryder Cup victory since 1993.
``It's a great honor to be the captain,'' Crenshaw said.
The matches will be played Sept. 24-26 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
``It's a lot of work,'' Crenshaw says of the Ryder Cup. ``We talk to the PGA of America (the managing body of the event in the United States) daily, really. My wife, Julie, and I have both been involved with setting up functions and outfitting the team. I've been to Brookline three times, and I'll go back many more times.''
The U.S. team leads the Ryder Cup 23-7-2 but is only 2-2-1 since 1985.
``There is a great responsibility because the matches have grown so much,'' Crenshaw said. ``I'm anxious to see if I can get these guys to put their best foot forward and try to help them in any way I can. I want to help them prepare, to let them know I'm there to answer any questions about anything. I want to be as involved as I can.''
When Crenshaw was named captain, there was talk that because of his good nature he'd hesitate to bench players during the matches.
``He won't have any trouble doing that,'' said former Augustan Carl Jackson, Crenshaw's caddie. ``There is fire in those blue eyes.
``Out of 12 guys, obviously, everybody can't be on their games at that particular time,'' Crenshaw said. ``You've got to weed them out through watching them practice, talking to them and asking them how they feel. It (benching a player) just has to be done.''
His captainship ``comes at a nice time in my life,'' Crenshaw said. ``I'm not playing quite as much out here.''
Indeed, Crenshaw has increasingly scaled back his starts on the PGA Tour. From his rookie year, 1982, through 1995, he played in at least 20 events a year. Starting in 1996, he played 19, 17 and 15, respectively. A player must play at least 15 tournaments to keep his playing card.
``I've got other things in my life pulling at me,'' Crenshaw said. ``My three daughters are getting older. The new one is just precious. We're having the best time with her. I really enjoy being with them. I must confess I enjoy playing a little bit less this year.''
Crenshaw's daughters are 11-year-old Katherine, 6-year-old Claire and Anna, who turned 1 in February.
Crenshaw finished 23rd on the PGA Tour money list in 1995, the year he won his second Masters. Since then, he has been 119th, 213th and 268th. He won just $11,393 in 1998 and missed the cut in all four majors for the first time in his career.
``I'm the type of player who needs to play a lot, but I can't do it at this time,'' Crenshaw said. ``I wish I could get myself up to play more because, damn, I know it's what I need.''
Crenshaw doesn't even consider himself what he calls a ``tournament golfer'' anymore.
``When I was playing a lot, that's where my energies were devoted,'' Crenshaw said. ``I can't do that anymore because there are other things that excite me.''
Crenshaw and Bill Coore, his architectural partner, normally limit themselves to one course a year. They are building a course in Crenshaw's hometown of Austin, Texas. It is called the Austin Golf Club.
``It's a golf club -- there is no real estate, no nothing,'' Crenshaw said. ``It's going to a nice place to hang my hat. Myself and a few people, we got together and decided to build our own nice, little, quiet club.''
Chip shots: Ben Crenshaw
Among Crenshaw's course designs is Cuscowilla, a 2-year-old course on Lake Oconee just over an hour west of Augusta.
Family, Ryder Cup keep Crenshaw busy
