One Reason We've Won

The United States has found success at The Presidents Cup and not at The Ryder Cup. Maybe Jack Nicklaus is why.

The value of Jack's leadership can't be measured.

Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images

September 27, 2007

MONTREAL, Canada (AP) -- Phil Mickelson let Scott Verplank do almost all the talking when they were asked about the United States' Presidents Cup success and Ryder Cup failures.

"We've talked about it, to be honest with you," Verplank said.

He recalled a late-night conversation last year after the 18-9 Ryder Cup loss to Europe in Ireland. The rout was the Americans' third straight loss and fifth in the last six matches, a sharp contrast to their 4-1-1 Presidents Cup mark.

"Jim Furyk and I were sitting in the hall of the hotel trying to figure it out and, of course, neither one of us knew what we were talking about," Verplank said Wednesday. "I can't put a finger on it and I don't know if Phil can or not."

Lefty couldn't.

Verplank then hit on a possibility when asked about the challenges of alternate-shot play, the format for Thursday's opening Presidents Cup matches at Royal Montreal.

That possibility: Jack Nicklaus.

"I think the thing that I've noticed between Ryder Cup and here is Jack is very much, 'Guys, do what you want to do. Have a great time. Tell me what you want to play with,'" Verplank said. "Ryder Cup has been captains a little bit more, coming up and saying, ' You're playing with him and he's playing with him.'

"I don't know if that makes any difference. I think most guys -- Phil, you could probably answer -- are comfortable with picking who they want to play with. Wouldn't you agree with that? I think that's helped in this event.

"Last time I played Presidents Cup, Justin Leonard and I knew we wanted to play together. We had been talking about it for 10 years and played pretty good. Jack says, ' Hey, if that's what you want to do, let's do it.' I had not particularly noticed that being that simple in the Ryder Cup. Does that sound right, Phil?"

Mickelson agreed, drawing laughter by diplomatically saying only "Yes."

The last time Verplank was at Royal Montreal, he won the 2001 Canadian Open for the fourth of his five PGA Tour victories. With the Blue Course playing to 6,859 yards six years ago, Verplank shot 70-63-66-67 for a 14-under 266 total and three-stroke victory. The renovated course now measures 7,153 yards.

"Obviously, I'm very happy to be back here," said Verplank, the Byron Nelson winner in April. "Last time we played here, it was a great experience for me. They have changed the greens, so there's some different subtleties about the greens. Some of them have little bit bigger slopes and some different areas around them.

"Other than 12 and 13, which they flip-flopped, basically, all they have done is just add some length. But the holes play very similar to what I remember. I think the golf course is a pretty neat golf course for this format and for this event."