Watch above: Golf legend Nick Price is the captain of the International Team for the upcoming Presidents Cup, a team that Saskatchewan’s Graham DeLaet very much wants to be part of. Jack Haskins reports.
SASKATOON – Three-time major winner Nick Price was the celebrity guest for Synergy 8’s “Drive For Kids” charity golf tournament at Saskatoon’s Willows Golf & Country Club. Price will serve as captain of Team International at the 2015 Presidents Cup in Incheon, South Korea this October.
“I feel so much pride because I get to represent a group of guys who really we’re a hodgepodge, we come from all over the world and it’s my sort of ambition every time we start is to bring all those guys together and work as a team,” said Price.
The 58-year-old golf legend from Zimbabwe made time Tuesday to talk about a Saskatchewan golfer on his radar.
Graham DeLaet, 33, was a key player for the internationals at the 2013 Presidents Cup, but a lot has changed in two years. He has slipped to 97th in the world golf rankings and is on the outside looking in to crack the squad this season.
“Graham and I have been texting backwards and forwards and I know it’s been a frustrating year for him because when he has played and been injury-free, he’s played really well,” said Price.
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“I just try to tell him, a while back, just put a good finish into the season and he’s in the playoffs so if he can put four good weeks together, who knows, he’s still on my radar very much so.”
DeLaet is expected to play in the first round of the 2015 FedEx Cup Playoffs this week. The Weyburn product needs to place well in The Barclays in order to stay inside the top 100 in points and earn a spot in the second playoff tournament.
“He’s such a gutsy player, you know he’s got a lot of grit and substance to him and he’s a real grinder and I think he’s probably at the cusp right now of, if he’s healthy, he’s going to win soon,” said Price.
DeLaet’s major problem this season has been his health.
He injured his thumb last month at the RBC Canadian Open and hasn’t played competitively since. DeLaet also missed almost three months earlier in the 2014-15 season with a neck injury.
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“It’s exceptionally frustrating, it really is, I know he’s had a couple of injuries that have plagued him so, hopefully he’ll get healthy,” said Price.
DeLaet has a short window of two tournaments to impress Price enough to earn a spot on the roster.
On his way to being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003, Price won 18 tournaments on the PGA Tour including the PGA Championship twice and The Open Championship in 1994.
Jack Haskins contributed to this story
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