PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
When Jeff Sluman was just 4 years old, rookie Jack Nicklaus defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1962 U.S. Open in Oakmont, Penn.
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It was the first victory for the Golden Bear, who would later amass the most major championships in history -- 18 -- and earn 73 titles on the PGA TOUR. Naturally, an aspiring young golfer like Sluman viewed him as the epitome of greatness.
"When I was growing up in Rochester, N.Y., my dream would have been to watch him play or catch his eye and say hello to him. I mean, I had no idea I would ever meet him. I would start playing golf and say, 'You know, it would be great, I could watch him hit balls inside the ropes.' It was like, 'maybe I could play a practice round with him, and maybe you play with him,'" Sluman said.
Little did he know that the two would eventually become friends. After forging a successful career of his own, the 50-year-old Sluman -- who also earned his first of six TOUR titles at a major championship -- was chosen by his hero to serve as a Captain's Assistant in 2003, 2005 and again in 2007 for the United States Team in the Presidents Cup competition.
"It's progressed into a very nice friendship, and it's beyond my wildest imagination that a kid from Rochester would be Jack's assistant for three times on the Presidents Cup."
Learning lessons both on and off the course has been one of the most rewarding experiences for Sluman, who was present during two of the most exciting Presidents Cups in history. In 2003, Nicklaus and International team captain Gary Player reached an unprecedented decision after the competition was tied at 17 points apiece. Three playoff holes between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els did nothing to break the tie, so Nicklaus and Player agreed in an act of good sportsmanship to call it a draw.
Sluman was also around in 2005, when Chris DiMarco sank a 13-foot birdie putt to clinch the title for the Americans. But no matter how a shot lands or what the final result, Nicklaus has taught Sluman that the competition is, first and foremost, about respect.
"It's truly been wonderful for me," Sluman said. "You know, just being around Jack...he's such a quality person.
"There's a story that comes to light at the previous Presidents Cup where one of the Internationals missed a putt, and our crowd kind of applauded a little bit. And Jack right away just took them to task, because he should. He said, 'No, no, no, that's not what this is about. It's about sportsmanship.' He said, 'Clap louder for our guys, but you never clap if the Internationals miss a putt.' He said, 'If they hit a good shot, applaud for them, too.'"
As the U.S. squad prepares for the journey to capture its fifth Presidents Cup title at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sluman is embarking on an adventure of his own. With his 50th birthday falling on Sept. 11, 2007, Sluman was able to debut on the Champions Tour at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn last week and finished tied for 15th.
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He'll play again at the SAS Championship this week before heading up to Canada. Luckily, the Champions Tour has an off-week during the Presidents Cup, so Sluman won't be missing any golf. In fact, he sees his Presidents Cup foray as a chance to improve his own game by studying the way the top PGA TOUR pros have complete focus and treat every shot with equal importance.
"You look at the guys on the Presidents Cup, and you know, you don't have to go much further than Tiger and Jimmy Furyk," he said. "Those guys show you how important every shot is and to never give up; you know, try to find a way to get the ball up and down and stuff like that. So it's really interesting to watch them, how they manage their games and their games together."
Plus, there's always the chance to pick the brain of one of golf's greatest players. As a captain's assistant, Sluman talks strategy with Nicklaus on pairings and match selections, as well as trying to guess the teams that Player will propose. In The Presidents Cup, the captains alternate selections, allowing them the chance to create some intriguing and not-so-random pairings.
Additionally, much like the Ryder Cup, Sluman and the rest of the team bond over the course of the week by attending several functions and team dinners.
"We don't have that very often on TOUR, where 12 or 14 guys will get together and go out to dinner," he said. "And we do it every night. We start telling stories, and the wives are there. And we just have a wonderful, very personal week that you spend with everybody. That doesn't happen very often, so that's pretty special."
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| Results | Points | |
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US TEAM | 19.5 |
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INTERNATIONAL TEAM | 14.5 |
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