last word by Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports Captain’s Pick

or goodness sakes, please, some- under that same flag? Agree or disagree with “Here’s hoping body help me with the great our nation’s politics, but it’s hard not to have mysteries of the universe: Other enormous respect for a man who’s put his life this new year than her family, why does any- on the line in service to his country. finds someone body care about Paris Hilton? “They seem to be stuck on the idea that it at the PGA of What is the key to understand- (the captain) has to be a current player,” Nel- ing trigonometry? And, as the calendar is son said recently. “Back around 1995, the order America willing F about to turn to a year, how is it of things was skipped and I kind of missed my to break the possible that — the man with turn. Nobody seems to really know why.” recent mold and an absolutely perfect résumé for the job — has To quote my soon-to-be-teenage son: never been Ryder Cup captain? “whatever!” put Nelson in “We’re always looking for ways to inspire Instead of pointing fingers, here’s hoping the position our players,” 2002 Ryder Cup captain Curtis this new year finds somebody at the PGA of he’s earned.” Strange told me recently. “Maybe the way to America willing to make a bold move: Break go is to choose someone who’s ‘been there the recent mold and put Nelson in the posi- and done that,’ not only the way they play tion he’s earned. He would be 62 at the 2010 golf, but the way they live their life.” matches in Wales, the oldest American captain By any measure, that’s Nelson. ever. So what? is 67, and he He played in three Ryder Cups and com- seems to be doing just fine as the President’s piled a sterling 9-3-1 record. Among those Cup captain. A team benefiting from a cap- who’ve played at least five matches in Ryder tain’s close knowledge of his players is an anti- Cup competition, he has one of the best win- quated notion anyway. Things just aren’t the ning percentages in the American team’s histo- way they used to be. ry. He’s also won the PGA Championship — “I heard Tiger had to take a couple of his usually the required credential for a Ryder Cup teammates out to dinner last time around captaincy — twice. You have to go back some because he didn’t even know them,” said 70 years, to , to find the last time Nelson. a two-time, American-born PGA champion There are a million reasons Larry Nelson wasn’t honored with a Ryder Cup captaincy. is the right choice the next time one needs to “I’m disappointed that I haven’t had the be made, but least of all there is this: The way opportunity,” says Nelson. “I was encouraged things have gone lately for the American team, a couple of times that it might happen and could it really hurt to shake things up? then, well…” his voice trails off. “I’m not My wife tells me I have to let things roll off really thinking about it too much anymore.” my back more. So here’s my resolution for the Which is truly a shame. Every two years, new year: I’m not going to let the trigonom- the Ryder Cup seems to be as much about etry or Paris Hilton things bother me anymore waving the American flag as it is about golf. because, after all, they’re trivial, right? But I Forget the golfing credentials, Nelson served don’t know if I’ll be able to do the same thing in Vietnam. Who could be a more meaning- if somebody doesn’t do the right thing when ful leader than a man who fought in combat it comes to Larry Nelson. ■

96 THE MET GOLFER • DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 WWW.MGAGOLF.ORG