International Team Presidents Cup Captain Nick Price Chooses 3 Assistants

With the Ryder Cup heading back to Europe, we can start looking ahead to the Presidents Cup that will be held October 1-6, 2013, at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. 

Muirfield Village is the design and home of golf legend Jack Nicklaus.  It annually hosts the Memorial golf tournament, and is the only course that has hosted a Ryder Cup, a Solheim Cup and now a Presidents Cup.

International Team Captain Nick Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.  He won five events on the European Tour, and 18 titles on the PGA Tour.  He won the 1992 and 1994 PGA Championships, as well as, the 1994 British Open.  He was also a member of five Presidents Cup teams. 

Price chose Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty plus Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama for his three assistant captains.

Nick Price said of his two fellow countrymen from Zimbabwe, Johnstone and McNulty,

“The three of us have enjoyed a friendship and rivalry that has lasted more than 40 years, and having played on many teams together during that time, they were an obvious choice for me.  They bring an incredible amount of match-play experience and knowledge to this team, and I know they are as excited as I am to be a part of The Presidents Cup again.”

Price went on to talk about the addition of his Asian assistant captain,

“His enthusiasm, dogged competiveness and incredible team spirit are things I will never forget.  He has a wonderful sense of humor, is always quick to smile and I am so looking forward to having him as a captain’s assistant.  His presence and confidence are going to be a huge asset for our team."

Maruyama was a member of the International Presidents Cup Team in 1998 and 2000.  He posted a 5-0-0 record in the 1998 matches, helping lead the International Team to its lone outright victory in the Presidents Cup. Maruyama is one of four players in event history to go 5-0 (Mark O’Meara, 1996; Tiger Woods, 2009; Jim Furyk, 2011).  His overall record in two appearances is 6-2-0. 

“I’m thrilled and very honored to be asked by Nick to serve as one of his assistants,” said Maruyama.  “The Presidents Cup holds a special place in my heart, especially the 1998 event.  I am already looking forward to the matches at Muirfield Village Golf Club and helping Nick and the International Team bring home The Presidents Cup for a second time.”

Maruyama will be invaluable in helping to handicap the Asian players that may make the 2013 Presidents Cup team.  He will also be able to help pair the Asian players with the correct partners and assess their strengths and weakness for Captain Price.

Mark McNulty played on the 1994 and 1996 Presidents Cup team, compiling a 3-4-2 record.  McNulty won 16 European Tour events and 33 titles on the Sunshine Tour.

“When Nick called me to ask if I would be one of his assistants for The Presidents Cup, it did not take me but a second to accept,” said McNulty.  “Having played The Presidents Cup twice, I am very excited and will look forward to experiencing those wonderful emotions that come with this great competition. I shall do my best to help Nick and the International Team get their hands back on the Cup again.”

Johnstone, like Price and McNulty, is from Zimbabwe.  He won 17 times on the Sunshine Tour and six events on the European Tour including the 1992 British PGA Championship. 

“I am absolutely delighted that Nick has accorded me the honor of being one of his captain’s assistants,” said Johnstone.  “He, Mark and I have been close friends since childhood, and with Shigeki’s wisdom, we will do all we can to make next year’s Presidents Cup a memorable occasion for all.  I can’t think of a better man than Nick to lead the International Team.”

Hopefully the 2013 Presidents Cup will provide the same type of team excitement that golf fans just witnessed at the Ryder Cup from Medinah.