His 18 professional major championships is a record that may never be matched. With 73 PGA TOUR victories, he ranks second all-time to Sam Snead's 82. His level of talent, dedication and professionalism are unmatched.

This will be Nicklaus' second captaincy of The Presidents Cup. He has had a profound impact on team golf in the last quarter century. It was because of his strong suggestion that European players came to be included on Ryder Cup teams, supplementing the traditional teams from the United Kingdom and Ireland. When players such as Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer were included, the Ryder Cup became increasingly competitive and successful.

While Nicklaus was twice a winner as a Ryder Cup captain, he will be trying to win his first Presidents Cup in South Africa. His first Presidents Cup team in 1998 lost to the International Team in Australia.

Q: How can you as captain affect the way your team performs?

A: The only thing I can affect is through morale. I can get guys excited, get them pumped up a little bit. Maybe helping them with the pairings. They are going to pretty much pick the pairings themselves. I will pick to some degree. I can make the trip easier for them. Make sure the wives are well adjusted to the whole deal and they are well organised so that the players are free to work on their games and be together. I can't help them physically. They have to play golf themselves.

Q: When you captained your first Presidents Cup team in 1998 in Australia, the International Team gave you a pretty good thumping. You will have some players back from that team. Is that enough incentive this time around, to give their all to the Presidents Cup?

A: Last time we were down there, and I didn't know this until it was all over, but a few of the guys didn't want to be there. We had a meeting (at the Memorial Tournament this year) and I said, 'Guys, this will be a trip of a lifetime. But I want 12 guys who want to play golf.' The last time, too many of the guys weren't interested. As a result, we didn't play very well. If somebody doesn't want to go, please don't go. There is no obligation.

Q: With the American players already having the Ryder Cup competition, do you think it's easier for the International Team to get up for this competition?

A: Yes, I think it is. But it's a matter of pride. We should all be proud to be representing our country. I'm proud to be the USA's captain. I think everyone should aspire to make the team and want to play their best. That's all there is to it, really. I want them to have the pride of winning for their country. But it is really a tremendous goodwill event and playing in it is enough. This is not life or death. It's just a game. That's what I have always said my whole career. It's a game. Play it hard. Play it to win.

Q: What did you learn from the first Presidents Cup?

A: I've captained two Ryder Cups, so I have some experience in doing this. I think the International Team is very strong. I think it's stronger now than it was the last time. More players have emerged on the international scene than on the American scene since I was captain. The Australian players are good, as are the players from South Africa and Asia. Mike Weir from Canada is having a great year. Our guys are good, no question. But the world guys will be very hard to beat.

Q: What do you think about when it comes to pairings, what is your strategy?

A: The guys will pretty much make the pairings themselves. They know who they like to play with. I don't like putting 'unlike' together. I find if you play a very long hitter with a short hitter, they don't do well together. That's particularly true for Foursomes, but if you are playing Four-ball I don't think it makes a lot of difference. When two guys are paired together, I'm not going to tell them how to play. They'll figure that out among themselves.

Q: What do you and Gary Player talk about in regard to this event?

A: We both think it's a terrific thing. Of course, we would both like to win. We have been competitive all our lives, so it doesn't change now. I don't think that winning is the end of the world here. It's a matter of pride, prestige, having a great event and promoting the good of golf around the world.

Q: This is a pretty big sporting event for South Africa. Could it prove more important in South Africa than in the US?

A: Absolutely, it will be a really big event down there. Fancourt is a very nice place. Gary did the golf course in a links style. You could swear when you go around this golf course you were in Scotland or England. They did such a great job. It's a tough course, though.

Q: Is your wife Barbara involved?

A: Barbara is involved with this just like everything else I do. Barbara does a great job. She's great with the girls, great with the guys.

Q: Your comments as a player at the 1977 Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham helped create the modern era of the Ryder Cup because players from Europe would be included on subsequent teams. Now, in The Presidents Cup, the International Team has been competitive from the start. In a sense, didn't you have a role in making team golf such a well-recognized event?

A: I probably had something to do with it, but a lot of people had to do a lot of things. I think Gary's team is stronger than the American team on paper, particularly playing in South Africa. But if we were playing in America, it would balance out more. I think Gary's team will be the favourite. - www.presidentscup.com