Q & A: Frank Nobilo

Frank Nobilo. Photo / Getty Images

Frank Nobilo is the assistant captain to Greg Norman in the Presidents Cup being held in Melbourne next week.

He leaves Auckland today after his first visit in six years. He likes the way everything is down a notch here compared with his lifestyle in Florida.

Kiwis did not take themselves too seriously, he said.

Do you remember any of your St Peter's College contemporaries in Auckland?

The guy who got me into golf was Chris Treen and I also remember Mark Lewis, who was Chris' younger brother. They were my two buddies there. Obviously Mark went on to be pretty good at tennis. I used to play rugby league for Glenora, I didn't play rugby for St Peter's which is a bone of contention. I got a bit of grief because I preferred league over rugby then and I was a bit more of a rebel. I used to catch the train to and from school and it took about 30-40 minutes. My mum said it drove her crazy because I missed it often and my parents were living in Glen Eden and I would end up in Henderson and they'd have to come and collect me.

You are plying your trade now as a golf analyst. How did you train for that, if at all?

I didn't. I was at a charity day for golfer Jeff Julian, who was dying of ALS, and Rich Lerner, who was working for the Golf Channel, came up to me and knew it was my last year playing because of rheumatoid arthritis, and asked me whether I had ever thought of TV. I said, "You've got to be kidding," and then I got a call at the end of the year and was asked whether I would try a couple of events.

I didn't like it, but they said there was a void on the Champions Tour and would I think about doing it. I was driving my wife crazy so thought I had better get off the couch and do it.

I tried it and it was so different. Everything was in reverse. I always looked at a hole going right to left and TV meant it went the other way. At one stage, I thought I was going dyslexic when I saw a left bunker on the right of the screen and so on. You learn timing and that shots should stand on their own and golf had given me everything that I had, so it was one way to still be involved in the sport. Then you realise where you are deficient, you find out how TV works, what a producer does, what a gaffer does, what a director and cameraman does and all the nuances. I have always liked technology so once you put that together it excited me.

Do you have a philosophy about commentary?

I work on it. The most important thing is the shot, not what we say. We should always be secondary. I think that is often reversed and it should be the golfer's moment. Really we have to help the viewer and try and assist them with what they don't know. I think most people overcomplicate it, most people want to make the great call. That happens by itself. If it is premeditated, it is wrong. I don't think a player thinks he is going to get to the 18th hole and hit a three iron to two feet. He might dream it at night but if you play golf that way you'll never win and I think commentators have to be the same.

Who is New Zealand's next pro to make it in the PGA?

Danny Lee without question. No one else at this stage. I don't know whether you put his talent or hard work first but I have been equally impressed with both.

Who is the best player in the world at the moment?

It is Luke Donald. The rankings do count. It's weird how they were fine for 13 or 14 years and then all of a sudden because Tiger Woods wasn't leading the rankings, there was something wrong with them. They are a good reflection especially of the top five or six players in the world. Is Woods the 58th-ranked player in the world? No, but that is because he hasn't played, end of story, so that doesn't count. But of the people who have played regularly it certainly sorts them out.

You are heading to the Presidents Cup in Melbourne where you played in the same event in 1998. What type of course is it?

It is the best course in Australasia. It is my favourite (Alister) MacKenzie course. It is what people would like Augusta to be. It is in that vein. It is always in tremendous condition, the greens rival Augusta in speed and Melbourne is one of the great sporting communities so put both those together and you have the recipe for a success. Its design, greens, condition, it is all-encompassing. It is a great fit and so many good holes. It does not legislate for one style of play.

You were part of the 1998 World team which is the only one to have won this event. It looks on world rankings as though the world has a good chance to repeat that.

They do. I champion that cause. I have said it to American papers that we have not been beaten outside North America. Only twice have they gone outside there, and I include Canada in that, and in South Africa there was a draw and then Melbourne where we won. It is a strong team.

Can you explain why there is a European ascendancy in golf?

Two of the Majors winners were South African. Oddly enough Europe claims those and wants to increase its catchment area. If you look at Europe they have increased their presence. Whether it is the (Nick) Faldo effect, that has got something to do with it. He was a six-time Major winner born in England and before him it was only Tony Jacklin and in Europe it was Seve and Bernard Langer, so I think it is a belief factor and they do have a very good five to 10 players, mostly English.

What is your travel schedule like compared with when you played?

It is worse. If I was tired I would stop for a week or two. I never used to try and play more than three tournaments in a row. Now with my employers, with the biggest events you go and the hours are long, especially at the big tournaments and events like next week. There is no let-up.

Do you play at all these days?

A little bit. Oddly enough a friend of mine who had a skiing accident on December 30 last year and is in his early 30s, he went to a neurology centre and they thought he was going to die. He dragged me out when I am at home because sometimes when you cover golf 24/7 the last thing you want to do is pick up some clubs, but because he is a friend he would say let's have a knock around, We would not talk golf, we would just enjoy getting outside. A lot of times I am in front of lights and that is not as good for you as getting out on the park.

Are you playing well?

I have my moments. This year has been rough and ready. It hurts when I play on a regular basis, one-offs no.

Will you play on the Seniors tour?

I am 51 and I have said one of my private goals was to play in the senior PGA. No one else knew about it but I have some immune disorders and sadly they raised their heads and so I did not do it. I had my entry form there and was this close to it but sadly it did not happen. I never say no because I am stubborn but realistically ... I do not even want to say that.