Presidents Cup Captains Visit White House and Robert Trent Jones Golf Club

Courtesy of PGATour.com

(PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA.) - On Wednesday, April 13, Presidents Cup Team Captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player visited the White House, toured Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and spoke with the media regarding the upcoming Presidents Cup that will take place in Prince William County, VA, on Sept. 20-25.

Below are highlights from their press conference with the local and national media.

International Team Captain Gary Player on the 2003 event - "It was an honor and a great experience for me, one of the three greatest experiences of my life. I suppose being played in South Africa, where a lot of people weren't quite aware of just the degree or what it could do for a country."

U.S. Team Captain Jack Nicklaus - "I've said many times that the matches we played in 2003 in South Africa, it was the most enjoyable, most fulfilling event that I've ever been involved with. Between all of the individual events I've ever played in, all of the other ones, that was absolutely the best event I've ever been in. "

Nicklaus on the attitude of the matches between the two teams - "They were played in the right spirit, and I'm sure that they will be played in the same spirit again this time, which is the spirit of sportsmanship and goodwill."

Nicklaus on who he thinks should be favored - "Frankly, I think that the international game and the international players are getting stronger all the time. And so if there is to be a favorite... I certainly think that Gary, the international players would be. I think they are more seasoned, more experienced and they frankly have to be able to travel all over the world to be able to play."

Player on the way the matches ended in a draw last year - "When Tiger Woods holed that 20-footer, it will go down in my mind as one of the greatest putts I've ever seen, really. I didn't give him a chance. And Ernie Els' 8-footer straight uphill, I thought we had won, and Tiger nailed it right in the middle. Of course, Ernie then had a putt; that the hole must have looked the size of a Bayer Aspirin, and it was getting dark and he drove it right in the middle. How do you go on after that? I think it's just appropriate that that happened."

Tickets, which are limited to enhance the viewing experience for spectators, may be purchased by visiting www.presidentscup.com or by calling 1-877-PREZ-TIX (773- 9849). There will be a limit of 20,000 spectators per day to provide the best viewing experience, and with more daily tickets available than in the past, it is expected that the event will sell out quickly.

About The Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup features many of the world's best golfers with 12 representing the United States and 12 making up the International Team of players from around the world, excluding Europe in team match-play competition. The United States has won three of the first five Presidents Cups, including a 21 1/2 to 10 1/2 victory in 2000, the last time the event was held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virginia.