Watch: Nick Price discusses playing at the Shaw Charity Classic and Graham Delaet’s chances for Presidents Cup
Nick Price hasn’t played much on the Champions Tour this year – injuries have limited him to a handful of tournaments. But that’s fine with Price, who is playing in the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic this week in Calgary, with the first of three rounds starting Friday.
He’s kept himself busy as the captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup that will be played in Ohio at the start of October. Among the key decisions Price has to make is the role of Graham DeLaet, the rising PGA Tour star from Weyburn, Sask. He’s spent a lot of time talk to other players who are likely on the team and it appears DeLaet, who currently holds the final qualifying spot on the team, has plenty of support.
“I’ve asked the players already, the guys who have played with him what they thought, what they think of his game, and the common thread comes back all the time the fact that he’s improved so much in the last two years from even three years ago from when he first got his card,” Price says.
What Price likes is DeLaet’s keen interest in being part of the team. Canadian Mike Weir has played on several Presidents Cup teams in the past, but there was no Canadian when the event was last staged in 2011.
“You know what was really important to me was when we had our meeting at Muirfield, he was about 19th or 20th on our list at the time and he was so enthusiastic,” says Price. “And there’s no substitute for enthusiasm as far as I’m concerned. You can have the best player in the world, if he’s not enthusiastic and really looking forward to playing, it’s just not the same.”
Price isn’t the only star at the Shaw Classic who is connected to the Presidents Cup. Fred Couples, who had huge galleries following him on the first day of the Shaw Charity Classic, will captain the American team that will include Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Couples was well aware that DeLaet’s star is on the rise and he’ll likely be part of the Presidents Cup.
As for whether DeLaet would be nervous playing alongside major champion winners Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, and Adam Scott on the international side, Couples said he didn’t think it would be an issue.
“For Graham, I think he’ll be quiet, he’ll listen and he’ll learn,” Couples said. “They’ll pair him with Ernie Els in practice rounds. It’s a blast. Are you more nervous? I don’t know him well enough, but I don’t think he’ll be more nervous. If he teams up with someone he really likes to be with and he hits it off, then its cake.”
DeLaet, who is playing at the Deutsche Bank Classic in Boston this weekend as part of the FedEx Cup, was well up the leaderboard after an opening round of 4-under par. Price said it will likely be this weekend that cements DeLaet’s place on the team.
“I think he’s going to be a lock if he plays decent this week,” Price said.
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