Haas & Price Named Captains of 2015 Presidents Cup Teams; Event to be Held in South Korea for First Time


Jay Haas was named captain of the U.S. team and Nick Price will serve in the same role for the International squad in the 2015 Presidents Cup. For the first time ever, the biennial event held in the off-years from the Ryder Cup will take place in South Korea.

The announcement of the new Presidents Cup captains and the site were made Wednesday in Branson, Mo., where another first is taking place: this week's Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf will be held at the resort's Par-3 Top of the Rock course and its 18-hole Buffalo Ridge Course, making this the first time in Champions Tour history where a tournament will use a par-3 in an official competition.

Haas and Price are playing in the Legends of Golf. Also entered are Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo.

In addition to Haas and Price, on hand for the unveiling of the Presidents Cup captains were PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, and South Korea's K.J. Choi. Haas named three-time-winning American captain Fred Couples as an assistant, and Price tabbed Choi - who could also earn a spot as a team member - to be one of his assistants.

Choi, an eight-time PGA Tour winner and a three-time member of Presidents Cup teams in 2003, 2007 and 2011, was excited about the event being held in his home country.

"People in Korea are thrilled and excited about the 2015 Presidents Cup that is to be held in Korea, so we can already see more interest and love for the game being built up," said the 44-year-old. "I am quite sure that through this Presidents Cup, the golf business and playing golf in Asia will advance to a higher level."

Price seconded those thoughts. "This is going to be a huge event for Korea. Korea has become a powerhouse with all the players coming out and playing all over the world."

A Q&A followed Finchem's announcement of the captains and 2015 Presidents Cup site. Here's what transpired.

TIM FINCHEM: We are delighted to make the announcement regarding the captains today for the 2015 Presidents Cup, which will be played in Incheon City adjacent to Seoul in South Korea. A couple things noteworthy about that. It's the first time we will have played the Presidents Cup in Asia even though we've had representation from Asia on virtually every team, and in addition, we will use that week in Korea to tell the story about the very strong relationship that the United States has with South Korea and the very strong relationship our military forces have with the business community in Seoul and in Korea. We think it's a compelling story, an historic story, and one that means a lot to the Korean people.

With that said, it's my honor to first announce the American team captain, U.S. Team captain, who will be Jay Haas. We'll ask Jay to come up. Jay brings a perspective to the Presidents Cup like no other captain or player can because he's unique among players as it relates to being captain, and let me explain why. As a player he has competed in two Presidents Cups, including the first Presidents Cup in 1994, and he compiled a 5 3 1 record in those two Cups. He also served as a captain's assistant on three winning U.S. teams, assisting Captain Fred Couples. And then as a father, Jay's son Bill was part of the United States team in 2011 and 2013, so he is unique in that regard with his perspective.

His appointment follows what has become now in recent years a tradition of selecting captains who have actually played on the Presidents Cup. We've decided not to limit future captains to those who have had sons play on the Presidents Cup team. That would make the list of possibilities somewhat small. But captain Haas, your comments?

JAY HAAS: Well, thank you, Tim. As you can imagine, I'm pretty overwhelmed and excited and humbled by this appointment. I want to thank both Jack and Gary for being here today. I have big shoes to fill in that regard. I was on that team in '03 in George, South Africa, and it was quite an experience. I don't know, I'm kind of tingling, I guess. I never really dreamt something like this. My goal as a player was to be a participant but never thought about being a captain, so I am in kind of uncharted waters here. But being the assistant the last three times gives me a little comfort. I'm just thankful for this opportunity. Really looking forward to it. Looking forward to getting back to South Korea. I played there in a Champions Tour event, and just can't wait. I'm really excited.

TIM FINCHEM: Thanks, Jay. I'll also note that Jay has served on the PGA Tour Policy Board and he's a former recipient of the Payne Stewart Award for his professionalism and the way he's handled himself over his entire career on the PGA Tour, a unique honor. With that, I'll turn to the International Team, and we're delighted to announce that Nick Price will return as captain of the International Team for the second time. Congratulations, Nick. Nick has the distinction of being the captain with the most Presidents Cup experience as a player. He competed on the team five times in '94, '96, '98, 2000 and 2003 Cup that we were talking about with Jack and Gary earlier.

I think as we approached his selection for the last Cup, we focused on the fact that all during his Presidents Cup playing career, Nick was not hesitant to be in addition a strong ambassador for the Presidents Cup. He would go play in tournaments and talk about how the Presidents Cup was his favorite competition that he played in all year, which was in those years a very strong endorsement of the Presidents Cup from a player who has won all over the planet and had the recognition and stature that he did and a player who was, in fact, No.1 in the World Rankings, as well, and a recipient of the Payne Stewart Award and Ambassador of Golf Award which is presented at Firestone Akron every year during the Bridgestone World Golf Championship.

With these two captains playing, leading their teams, I think we're going to have a great Cup on a phenomenal venue in Songdo, Korea, in the fall of next year. With that I'll ask Nick to give us your comments on your playing, your captaining, and what you're looking forward to.

NICK PRICE: Thank you, Tim. I'm obviously delighted to have been asked to do this again. Last year was a learning experience for me, and I just want to thank the players who were on the team last year because without them, I don't think I'd be sitting here again because I know Tim went and polled all of them, so I must have done something right to be back here.

We had a fantastic team last year. We had a great time. We had a lot of camaraderie. We had so much motivation. They were a great bunch of guys, and as I said earlier in the week, at Muirfield the only time we were all together in the same room, together for the first time in the same room was on the Monday on the eve of the tournament. It just shows you what a great bunch they were. They got together very quickly. Everyone contributed. It was just a wonderful, wonderful thing to be a part of, and I'm so excited to do it again, particularly in Korea.

I think this is going to be a huge event for Korea. Korea has become a powerhouse in golf over the past decade or so, all the great players that have come out of there. We've seen major championships come out of Korea now, and I just want to say how proud I am to have been asked again. I also want to let you know that this next man who I have chosen as my vice captain is about as motivated as I am, has enjoyed playing on the Presidents Cup as much as I have over the years, and seeing as it's in his home country, I've asked K.J. Choi to be my vice captain, and he's accepted.

MODERATOR: Before we get a comment from K.J., Jay, I believe that you have an announcement to make of your own who is going to be the first assistant on your staff.

JAY HAAS: Well, we're going to keep pretty much the same formula. We just have a different person giving the speeches I guess at the opening and closing ceremonies. Fred Couples has agreed to be my assistant captain, and I can't say enough about Fred, how the guys respond to him, how they have the last three matches. We just have a big time. We just have a ball. I know Nick alluded to the team room, and I don't think there's anything better for a golfer from an individual sport to be in that team with those players and kind of feel that those other 11 guys have your back.

Again, Fred and I, we've been buddies for a long time, and we're really looking forward to going over to South Korea and trying to put up a good fight against the International Team once again.

MODERATOR: Obviously Fred is not present here today, but K.J. is. K.J., if you'd like to share a few thoughts about the appointment.

K.J. CHOI: First of all, I would like to thank Captain Nick Price for having selected me as vice captain for the Presidents Cup 2015 that will be taking place in Songdo, Korea, at Jack Nicklaus's golf course. Nick Price, whom I've respected since childhood, has shown me much kindness and guidance when I started on the PGA Tour. To think that I will be working alongside with him with the same team gives me great pleasure to say the least.

As the 2015 Presidents Cup will be held in Korea, I'll do my very best to help our captain so that the International Team can have a win this time around. As this is the first time for me to become a vice captain for the Presidents Cup, I am feeling immense obligation and burden. Until now, the Presidents Cup was held in an English speaking world, and this is the first time that it's being held in a non English speaking world. With the Presidents Cup being held in Korea, I am quite sure that there will be renewed ideas of what golf is.

People in Korea are thrilled and excited about the 2015 Presidents Cup that is to be held in Korea, so we can already see more interest and love for the game being built up. I am quite sure that through this Presidents Cup, the golf business and playing golf in Asia will advance to a higher level. The International Team has one win, one draw and eight losses so far. I sincerely hope to help realize a second win in Korea this time. Although I'm lacking in many ways, I'll give all I've got, and with players and with the help of captain Nick Price, I'll do my best to help our team win. Thank you.

MODERATOR: At this time if you have questions we have some hand held microphones.

Q. A question about the fact that this is going to be in South Korea. You kind of alluded to it earlier, but this is a pretty significant event to be in that region of the world for the first time. Could you comment on that?

NICK PRICE: Absolutely. I wouldn't be sitting here today if it hadn't been for Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player bringing out Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper and all the great players out to Southern Africa to play back in the '60s. They inspired me. When I went to watch them, that's what started golf for me, and I remember Billy Casper giving me a golf ball on the seventh green of Royal Harare back in 1967, and I've still got that golf ball somewhere. I don't know where it is, but I didn't throw it out, and I told him that when I saw him.

With satellite TV now, it's changed a lot of things because kids can watch golf live around the world, but it's still not the same as seeing the world's best golfers right in front of you live on your own turf. I think it's going to be a huge impact for youngsters in Korea. I think it's going to be so well received, obviously, going there for the first time, and I think it's going to be a huge - have a great impact on golf there for many years to come.

Q. I just want to take this opportunity, Jay Haas, to tell you that we were there when your son picked up the check for $10 million from FedEx, and I just want to thank you for raising such a fine young man. The way he handled that and represented you and your family was just remarkable, and our future is in good hands with people like that.

JAY HAAS: Well, thank you. I was there at that event, and it was quite a thrill for me to see that happen. We figured out that Bill won more that year than I won in my entire career, which is wonderful. The game has grown so much, and just talking about the event going to South Korea, Gary started it, I think, traveling all the miles, the millions of miles that he has traveled over the course of his career, and people have followed him just like Nick said. Going to South Africa now is like going to one state over anymore. Guys just do it all the time. It's very commonplace. And back then, I think it took you, Gary, five or six flights to get to America when he played. The game has grown terrifically, and the young player of today is benefiting, certainly.

Q. Golf has meant a lot to you throughout your career. Was there ever a point when you thought you would be the captain of the International team?

JAY HAAS: About 10 minutes ago maybe. No, I guess as an individual player, it was my goal to make any of these teams and to be in that room, I don't think there's been a better feeling for me than looking around across the room and seeing Tiger or captain Nicklaus or whoever it might be, and to be one of those players, that was always my goal. I didn't really aspire to be a captain, never thought that that would be in the cards for me. But being involved with the last couple, three teams along with Fred has given me - and maybe thought someday that could happen, but it never really - there's so many people who are deserving of this seat right here, I just feel like I'm very blessed to be sitting here representing the United States, and hopefully I won't screw this thing up too badly.

Q. Jay, how much can you lean on your past experience now that you are the captain?

JAY HAAS: I think the system that Fred and I used, and Davis last year at Muirfield Village, that we used for three teams was we leaned heavily on the veteran players. We got Tiger and Phil and Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker and guys like that in the room, and it's not - there was not a pecking order it didn't seem like. We were a bunch of equal guys in there just trying to put the best team forward, and I don't think that will change any, relying heavily on their feel for the game.

Obviously with me on the Champions Tour not seeing these guys week in and week out, I feel pretty close to the players of today, just with Bill and being involved with the last three teams, but there's things that we would miss. Maybe the teams, the way they meshed together, we might not see something that the veteran players would know. Without question, it's about the players. It's not about the captain, in my role anyway.

Q. Mr. Choi, the remark was made here that golf has really exploded in popularity in Korea. Was there some specific incident, a game of some sort, one person that brought about this great level of popularity?

K.J. CHOI: As you know, in Korea there was a player called Se Ri Pak, and when she came over to the U.S. and won the U.S. Open, that was a big event for Korea. When I won the Compaq Classic, this was a big thing for Korea, too, and that helped a lot with the popularity. All the junior golfers that saw that tournament back then such as Seung Yul Noh or Sang Moon Bae are all the guys that grew up right now and became such players.

Back then I didn't know much about Presidents Cup. I didn't know there was a tournament such as the Presidents Cup, but then in 2003 I attended the Presidents Cup and I realized it was a big tournament. To the Koreans they were able to get close to golf through the PGA tournaments and through the Presidents Cup, and all of those things, they were able to get really close to the game of golf, and it contributed a lot to the popularity.

Q. As an American I wish you'd never found out about the Presidents Cup, but as a spectator from '05 to '11, what does this man mean to the International Team?

NICK PRICE: Well, last year - we played the same team in 2003. I think K.J. was a huge learning experience for him. I think the first one you play in, whether it's a Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, whatever team event you play in, it's a learning experience, because there were three or four of us, or five of us from Southern Africa on that team. I think we made him feel really at home, made him feel very comfortable. At the end of the week we'd always sit down in the room and discuss everything, and I know K.J. was very vocal about how much he enjoyed the week there.

Two years ago when Tim announced - when I was announced as the captain for the first time, the first event that I went to was the Bridgestone Invitational, and I met with K.J. Immediately I could see the passion that he had. He was explaining to me what he felt would be - how we could improve, how we could - pairings, how we could have more practice rounds. He had a lot of great ideas, a lot of great advice, which I used, which I also understood. So it was really an obvious choice for me when we were going to South Korea, and I said to him that I wanted to have K.J. as my assistant captain or my vice captain. I think he's also going to help me a lot over there with some of the difficulties that I may encounter, and he'll make me feel very much at home there, too. I'm looking forward to it a lot.

Q. Jay, the selection of choosing Fred as your assistant, was that easy or difficult, and did you think about choosing your son Bill?

JAY HAAS: I guess choosing Fred was a no brainer. Like I said, it just seemed like we meshed well the last three times, and we've had success. As soon as I had gotten the word from Tim, we talked, and it was just kind of a done deal. I think we both assumed that that was going to happen. And no, I did not ever consider Bill. I think that he's got enough on his plate trying to be a competitor and trying to make a team. I don't think that'll - I don't think he would want to be in that role. I think if I was him, I'd want to be in the role of player. I did not consider that. But Fred was a tap in. It was going to happen.

MODERATOR: Gentlemen, congratulations, and the former and present captains are going to pose for some photographs out in the hallway with the trophy, so if you'd like to stick around for that, please do so. Again, gentlemen, congratulations, and thank you all.

The transcript for the above interview is courtesy of ASAP Sports.