Nicklaus, Player retained as Presidents Cup captains

DUBLIN, Ohio, May 31 (Reuters) Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will return as Presidents Cup captains next year for the third successive time, the PGA Tour said today.

''We are thrilled Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have agreed to come back and lead their teams again,'' Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement on the eve of this week's Memorial tournament.

''The Presidents Cup has come of age over the last two playings, in large part due to the efforts of these two legends.

''The 2003 and 2005 Presidents Cups both came down to the final hole and we are expecting another spirited competition when the teams match up in Canada in 2007.'' The Presidents Cup, a biennial event pitting a 12-man international team against the U.S., will be held for the seventh time next year at the Royal Montreal Golf Club from September 27-30.

Eighteen-times major winner Nicklaus is looking forward to a fourth spell as US captain.

''I am delighted I will have the opportunity again to compete against my good friend Gary Player,'' Nicklaus said.

''The last two Presidents Cup matches have been among the most rewarding and memorable events in my career, but at the conclusion of 2005, I honestly felt it was time for another individual to get the honour of serving as captain.

''In recent conversations with Tim Finchem, he expressed it would be good for the event and the game of golf to bring Gary and me back for the matches in Montreal.

GREAT DEAL ''He also said the players were very supportive of such a decision. When I heard that, it meant a great deal to me.'' South African Player, a nine-times major champion, expressed similar sentiments.

''It is no secret Jack and I have really enjoyed our respective roles as captains and have relished the camaraderie our teams have shown one another,'' he said.

''The fact is, the Presidents Cup has come of age and is now universally accepted for what it is, great golf, played by some of the world's best, in the true spirit of the game.'' The US have dominated the competition, winning four of the matches, including a thrilling victory last September by 18-1/2 points to 15-1/2 in Lake Manassas, Virginia.

The only victory by the Internationals came in 1998 when the event was staged in Melbourne, Australia.

The teams shared the trophy in South Africa in 2003 when a sudden-death playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els was called off in fading light with the pair level after three holes.

The sides ended four days of regulation play at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate outside George deadlocked on 17 points.

Reuters VJ VP0115