THE PRESIDENTS CUP MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 4, 1999

Peter Thomson

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Maybe. (laughter).

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Thank you, Jeff. It is my great pleasure to be here back where I sort of started with The Presidents Cup. As you can understand this has now become a great passion in my life. At my age I think I am very lucky to be involved with these young giants of the game. And so from here 'til October next year I will be hardly thinking of anything else but The Presidents Cup. I still have in mind that -- the glory days of Royal Melbourne when our team did so well. I am under no illusions that that would happen again in the United States. But the big challenge now, as I said at that occasion, is for this international team to prove that it can win this Presidents Cup here on U.S. soil. That will be the main aim of our team for next year. Obviously it is possible because we came within a whisker of it in 1996. So that is what I am about. My team had a meeting at the British Open at Carnoustie, kind of reunion which was a spontaneous occasion where everybody recalled the moments of Melbourne and also the great times we had here at RTJ in 1996, we spoke of that as well. So our mind is on this contest. We are very proud to be involved. I know the guys are very intent on making the list and I think it is obvious that the team won't be different to the last one on both sides. The U.S. Team is already beginning to look like a new list. My team will still have its same backbone of about six players like Els and Vijay Singh and Nick Price, Franco and Perry and Elkington certainly and maybe Appleby. They would certainly be the backbone of the team. But the other six, of course, are yet to be identified because of the long way to go. But we will have -- both teams will be a new look so that will make it more interesting. Now I have looked at the changes to the course here and they certainly looked to me like tremendous improvements. Some of the little flaws that were, I think, obvious the last time we played have been eliminated. And it will be even better from the players' point of view, but I think from spectators, too. So I am thrilled to have seen that this morning. More than that, I can't offer you unless you ask me.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: I think, Jerry, there is no course I know that doesn't have some critics. I can't think of one course anywhere that -- even the old course at St. Andrews which everybody loved so much, people say, well, it is a big phony or something. But I don't take too much notice of criticisms on this course. Every golf course is different. Every golf course has a character. This certainly has it - in the woods of Virginia. This is not the seaside of the British Isles nor the kind of aridness of Arizona or Texas. This is very much a Virginia woods course. And as such, I am sure it is one of the best that there is. It is nine years old, this course, and it is like every course, I think from use and practice you find little flaws about green contours or shapes or such things. I think that has been the main adjustment to the course; some of the greens that were too undulating, I think have been leveled to make more friendly putting without actually detracting from the difficulty of the place. I suppose that word "Practicality" is really what is going on. When golf courses started; perhaps at St. Andrews, they came across all kinds of rough territory until they got to a flat place where they holed out into; that is where golf started, holing out in a flat place and that is really what we are after here, this course, and we are after that on any other course. That is the flaws that I am referring to.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yes. Also a couple of the holes near the end have been lengthened; not for the sake of extra length - it's got plenty of length- but just to open up the view of the lake behind the green which adds to the beauty of the place really. That is the 15th and the 18th. It really is a very beautiful course.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: I understand there is a worry about daylight hours playing two rounds. But, no. Well, I mean, it may rain any day of the year, I guess. But it will be cooler, I think, more comfortable; it might be the best time of all to play.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Oh.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Like a delay, you mean?

CAPTAIN THOMSON: All right. Is that a fact? You better ask the tournament director.

LANCE HARTMAN: Well, as a precaution and part of what we do in looking at the time and with our climate studies, the club and the tournament have taken the steps to purchase equipment: blanketing, heating devices, to ensure that frost will not delay any play. That's really where the club has stepped up as a partner in this event and said: We will, at our cost, purchase the equipment to cover the greens and make sure that frost is not a concern.

LANCE HARTMAN: Yes. So that we guarantee that there will be an 8:00 A.M. start on Friday and Saturday. Only thing that may delay us would be fog as it did in 1994.

LANCE HARTMAN: Unless you have big fans. (laughter).

CAPTAIN THOMSON: The players know the course perfectly well. They can play it blindfolded (laughter) What is a little fog? (laughter).

LANCE HARTMAN: Our studies with the National Weather Service basically have indicated that the highs during the day are upper 60s; low 70s. The lows are in the lower 50s at night. That is basically a five-year average that we have taken. We feel as though that is comfortable where we can host it the third week of October. It is peak leaf season so from an aesthetic look, cosmetic, realistically the trees should be on fire, figuratively, in color. That is really going to add a dramatic look to the course.

LANCE HARTMAN: We hope. Snow is the one you hope doesn't come into play. Snow and fog.

LANCE HARTMAN: Everyone quote that.

LANCE HARTMAN: It is a concern and we just hope we have the measures in place. We think we have.

LANCE HARTMAN: Yeah.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Half of them would be, yeah. There will be a new -- probably four or five guys who have been here before.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Oh, yeah, of course. They are all pro at it and they wouldn't be where they are on the list if they didn't have that capability.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, there seems to be more of it. This week, a team-thing at St. Andrews. You have got to include that, haven't you, in what you are speaking of? Then there is the World Cup somewhere soon which is pairs. I suppose we do have more team golf than ever.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Not in our case or I suppose it should be "My case." This particular team; it is called the International Team, is already bonded by the fact that most of them play in the U.S. as a kind of category of foreign players. So they automatically gravitate together and feel that they have got a like purpose and like problems and so on. They are already a bonded group. So I don't have any problem like having to pull them altogether. They are already such. I think that is lucky; and maybe one reason they do so well. Also, I have said this before, too. They have a point to prove and that is that until recently they have been ignored, for instance, the Ryder Cup has taken center stage and, therefore, no Australian or South African or Japanese is involved in that contest. My team feels that leaving them out is not a very nice thing to happen. So they are making a point that there is a third force of team golf in the world and that is this International Team. If we are lucky enough to win this contest next year, I think we would be able to claim that we are an undisputed top team and they want to do that.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Let me put it this way to you: The Ryder Cup is of no consequence whatever to the citizens of Australia.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, it was the biggest golf occasion we have ever had in Australia and I think every Australian citizen had a feeling that it was Australia's team; which, of course, it wasn't. But nevertheless, we had that feeling about it. It wasn't a group of strangers coming to play golf on our doorstep. It was our team. It was capital letter O-U-R, "OUR Team." And when the next contest takes place, there will be a couple of million Australians looking at it on the TV in the middle of the night. So I am sure that is where we stand.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, I did refer to that. That is our aim and if we pull it off, it will be of immense joy and satisfaction because we know that that is the most difficult thing in golf, I think, for a team to come and beat the U.S. on U.S. soil.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, I acknowledge that the U.S. Team is the strongest team of golfers and we would naturally be underdogs and if we knock off the favorites, well, that has special joy and significance.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, I watched very closely and having captain experience I felt I could sense certainly what was going on there from by both captains. But, anyway, it is none of my business what went on there; I am just an observer like you.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: That is the key question. I would like to see it happen, I tell you that first. I'd like this to be a three-corner contest. But I think it is unlikely; if not impossible, because of the vested interest of the US PGA and the British PGA who actually together own the Ryder Cup. They are not likely to surrender anything, any point or facet of it to the Presidents Cup. I would expect that they would see The Presidents Cup as some kind of threat, but then that is their business.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Jerry, if they need to make a choice and they don't want to play every year, I hope they choose to play The Presidents Cup. I think that is not unlikely because of what has gone on up to now at the Ryder Cup.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, I am a traditionalist. I find punching the air, for instance, to be out of order. I think that should be stopped. I find that provocative of crowds and galleries and also intimidating to opponents. I don't think it has any place in golf. You don't do it in club life; I don't think that has a place. Anyway, that is me personally. I am telling you the truth like I usually do. That is typical of my attitude to etiquette.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, I just comment that apologies were made. I didn't tell them to do that. It was spontaneous and I think that was correct.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, this is a little different which -- I think we are referring to the team behavior.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, you are probably right. I don't think this has happened in The Presidents Cup. I am sure it hasn't where I have been involved. I hope it doesn't. But it may. It may.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: If it does tend that way, somebody after I am gone will have to tackle it because I just feel the next Ryder Cup is going to be ugly.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: I don't believe it will. I think the problem with the Ryder Cup started some years ago. I wasn't present. I didn't really take much interest, but at some point there was some sort of crowd abuse, I think, of the U.S. Team. Then what has happened is a retaliation of that. I mean, every golf fan - a real fan knows what took place, say, in England eight years ago, whatever it was. So what happens now is retaliation; it is hidden retaliation; that is what is going on.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yes, and we haven't had such a hit in our Presidents Cup contest yet. I hope we never have. If there is no hit, there is no need for retaliation. That is my point.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: The answer is yes. They are noisier because the crowds are bigger. But it is now expected, I think, for them to cheer and whistle and things like that. I find a problem with that.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: No. I think the crowd, by its increase in number now includes people who want to do that; who have a feeling they want to play a part, audience participation and that is a natural progression, I guess. I think The Presidents Cup up to now has been the perfect example of crowd participation. I mean, they applaud good shots no matter who hits them. They applaud the winning team; quite rightly. I think that is where we are at. It is very wholesome.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Indeed. He is logically one of the possible captain's choices if he doesn't make the 10. I mean, he has been battling very hard and, I think, gallantly here in the U.S. this year - pretty hard from that situation of being a part-timer, I suppose, you'd call him, wouldn't you?

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, and he has been battling and he hasn't quite found how to do it yet in the U.S. so -- whether he makes the Top-10 in the rankings next year or not, he will be a consideration, I promise you.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, if he wants to play, I am pretty certain that he will play. I will add to that. I will say the team needs him.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: No, our paths cross here and there because I have a different lifestyle and different travel. I don't live in Florida.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, I saw him. Well, I saw him in August in Australia briefly. I saw him at Carnoustie.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Well, not at this stage, no. It is not of particular concern at the moment or up to now, but as we get near the time I will certainly be having a big chat with him.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, it is a big thing with them.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: It has raised the interest in professional golf. But professional golf is not the real golf. The real golf is club golf and public links golf and once-a-year-golf; that is the real golf. There is a rub-off with good televised golf and big occasions. There always is that renewed interest; public green fees go up. There is more club golf played and so it is a kind of a rub-off from these big events. Some people take up golf because they have seen it on the television. So I think the answer to the question is it has had a big impact. I think golf sales have gone up and club sales and membership lists got longer; things like that.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Yeah, we have had quite a boost since last year in Australia. There is a sudden surge in new courses being planned; may be traceable to The Presidents Cup. Of course we have become more affluent, but as a result of our peace-keeping efforts now in these team wars, we have got to foot the bill, so we are going to be less affluent.

CAPTAIN THOMSON: Until it is over and it will be over in September and we will be back to normal. You can sense that I live in Melbourne; not Sidney (laughter). We are worried that all the people in Sidney are going to come down to Melbourne for the week and foul up our traffic and all that. (laughter).

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