GAINESVILLE - Presidents Cup golf captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player engaged in an animated exchange over players signing autographs during practice rounds yesterday.
Nicklaus, who is captaining the US team for a third time, confronted Player on the driving range and accused the International team captain of breaking an agreement to not allow players to sign autographs on the golf course.
World No 2 Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, New Zealand's Michael Campbell and their International team-mates were seen signing autographs as they practised at the Robert Trent Golf Course. Later, some US team members also signed for fans.
After talking with Player, Nicklaus told fans around the driving range - as he was signing autographs - that some of his players thought the Internationals were making them look "like jerks".
In three previous Presidents Cups played at the Robert Trent, the Internationals are without a win.
The European team drove the US to distraction at last year's Ryder Cup in Oakland Hills near Detroit, signing autographs and mingling with American fans as part of a major charm offensive designed to help defuse some of the hostility they might face during the event.
The plan worked as the Europeans received a mostly warm welcome from the pro-American crowd as they rolled to a record-breaking 18 1/2 9 1/2 victory.
- REUTERS
Golf: Captains' autographs rumpus
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