The Melbourne Matter

The only time the U.S. has gone down to defeat in seven Presidents Cups was a 20�--11� drubbing in 1998, when the event took place Down Under, in Melbourne. That match was held in December, the start of summer in Australia as well as the middle of the off-season for most American pros, who were less than enthused about making the long trip. "The players did not want to go to Melbourne," says Jack Nicklaus, who captained the lifeless U.S. side. Will the Americans be more excited in 2011, when the event returns to Royal Melbourne? Stewart Cink thinks so. "The Presidents Cup has elevated itself," he says. "It's more meaningful now, and the players care more about it. Sure, the dates"—in late November or early December, according to Tour commissioner Tim Finchem—"are a possible issue, but we'll figure out how to avoid a problem."

CAPTAINS' CHOICE

Nicklaus is famous for threatening to retire and then never doing so, but he and Gary Player, his International counterpart, sounded as if they're ready to step down after holding the job for three straight Presidents Cups. "I don't want to be piggish, and I'm sure Gary feels the same way," said Nicklaus. Player seconded that, saying, "It's time for somebody else."

Possible U.S. candidates for 2009, when the match will be held at Harding Park in San Francisco, include Tom Watson, whose friend Sandy Tatum spearheaded Harding's restoration. For the Internationals, Nick Price or popular assistant captain Ian Baker-Finch are thought to be the front-runners, although former International captain Peter Thomson nominated Greg Norman. "I hope one day [ Norman] will be captain," Thomson said. "He was a giant figure in the game for so long."

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DEERLY BELOVED

It's bow-hunting season in Wisconsin, but avid outdoorsman Steve Stricker, who lives in Madison, said he has been out in the woods only once so far this year. "I didn't even see a deer—not one," Stricker reported. But his caddie, Tom Mitchell, has already bagged a pair of does. "So I'm two down," said Stricker. One wag, obviously not a hunter, wanted to know what the golfer did with a deer after "catching" one. "We don't catch them," said Stricker, holding back a guffaw. "We shoot them."

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]