Price Hits The Champions Tour – Takes Aim At Issues In Game

Flagstick Golf Magazine · February 7, 2007

Boca Raton, Florida, Feb. 7. - It’s hard not to like Nick Price. Honest and forthright – he is a breathe of fresh air in professional sport. If you have met him just once or witnessed him in action, either on the golf course or interacting with spectators, you become a fan.

I had always believed that. And I always will. Even in the middle of a tournament I have observed as he took time to converse with a spectator who happened to be wearing the replica Zimbabwe cricket jersey of Price’s nephew, Raymond. How many pro athletes would you see cross the full breadth of a fairway to seek out a fan? Never mind the fact he was paying enough attention to the fans to spot it!

And now, to the delight of Champions’ Tour fans, the 18-time PGA Tour champion and 24-time International winner will be taking his show to their theatre.

Sadly, for those who pay far more attention to the PGA Tour – it means even less of the man who dominated that tour for an extended period in the early 1990’s, posting 15 wins in that decade alone. How could you not cheer for him at Turnberry in 1994 as he raised the Claret Jug and spoke so eloquently about his previous Open Championship heartbreaks?

Truthfully, Price has been pretty much been in the background on the PGA Tour over the last few years, playing a schedule near the minimum number of starts each season. But the milestone of him even being eligible for the Champions Tour seems to create a finite barrier and realization that his regular tour days are fading.

Of course he still has game, posting a top ten as recent as the 2005 United States Open. But after a hard working career where he has piled up trophies and cash, you can empathize with a move to play in the less harried environment of the older set.

When it comes down to it, I am just a fan who is being selfish about Nick Price and his Champions Tour eligibility. You see, for those among the ink stained wretches; Price was always a willing figure you could talk to by default. He would never hesitate to answer a question thoughtfully, giving you all the time you needed. Just as he would do for any fan he encountered.

His forthright nature continued today as he prepares to play in the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Florida. He addressed a group of press members by teleconference. During the half hour media gauntlet, he mentioned not only his true desire to play on the Champions Tour but also spoke candidly about the state of his game and all sorts of subjects ranging from the scourge of slow play, to the need for players to rival Tiger, and the “ruining” of Augusta National.

And, in typical Nick Price fashion, he made his points with clarity, with his experience as the weighted evidence to back him.

The last two years have been tough for Nick Price, an ardent competitor. He has struggled with his game in a failed attempt to find the extra yards he felt he needed to still compete at the PGA Tour level. All this before realizing, “at 47 or 48 I just wasn’t going to get any longer.”

The result was a profound lull for his attitude, and his game. Asked about a low point in the last couple years he simply said, “pick a month except for July and August when I am with my kids for summer vacation. Too many short weeks.”

Missing cuts hurts even for a player already in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

He describes his recent times on the PGA Tour as “purgatory”, specifically mentioning the length issue. “The game passed me by a bit. At least out here you don’t have to hit the ball 320 yards.” As a result, Price says his PGA Tour appearances will be limited to places like Colonial where he believes he still has a chance to compete. “The majority of my golf will be played out here,” he said mentioning a proposed Champions Tour schedule of 15 or 16 events with more to be added depending on his play.

Another fact in that equation is his family. He and wife Sue have three young kids at home and he says being a father is a greater priority over being a golfer. He wants to make sure that Greg, Robyn, and Kimberley, now 15, 13 and 10, get a proper summer break. “Staying in a hotel for a week at the British Open is not a summer vacation,” he reiterates.

The Allianz Championship is a no-brainer as a Champions Tour debut for Price as he lives just around the corner in Hobe Sound, but you can still expect some fireworks from him this weekend; he is far from being a ceremonial golfer.

He has been working of late with David Leadbetter and rates his current game as a 6 out of 10, saying he is pleased to at least be at a number on the right side of the scale, but hoping to get sharper in coming weeks. “Who knows, at times gone by I have won with a game at a 6 but I need to get my game up to a 7 or an 8 before I feel competitive out here.”

You can bet Price will probably get to a 7 or 8 fairly fast. It is hard not to imagine him raising at least one trophy on the Champions Tour in 2007.

Whatever happens, I implore all Champions Tour fans, please take care of Nick. Give him the respect he deserves and don’t be afraid to send him back out to play on the PGA Tour whenever he wants.

The Champions Tour has put a lot of ceremony into welcoming Nick Price but there is some redundancy in that.

Really, where wouldn't he be welcome?

poppyhillsguy · February 7, 2007

Just imagine, Payne Stewart and Nick Price debuting on the Senior Tour this week. I'm looking forward to seeing if Price dominates, but wow, what could have been.

charlesdupuy · February 7, 2007

Beautiful Story! Unfortunatley the only experience I have of Nick Price was at Wentworth at the Matchplay in 1997. I asked him politley for an autograph before the round and he said 'no, ask me after i've played', I asked him again after he'd played and he just gave me a nasty look and walked off toward the club house. He had just lost in a playoff in the semi finals to Ernie Els who made an extrodinary come back during the back nine, but still he's a professional golfer and at that point a fairly seasoned one too, how about a little professionalism?

Anyway, I hope it was a one off and wish him the best of luck on the Champions Tour

Lionstar · February 7, 2007

Beautiful Story! Unfortunatley the only experience I have of Nick Price was at Wentworth at the Matchplay in 1997. I asked him politley for an autograph before the round and he said 'no, ask me after i've played', I asked him again after he'd played and he just gave me a nasty look and walked off toward the club house. He had just lost in a playoff in the semi finals to Ernie Els who made an extrodinary come back during the back nine, but still he's a professional golfer and at that point a fairly seasoned one too, how about a little professionalism?

Anyway, I hope it was a one off and wish him the best of luck on the Champions Tour

I have a friend who worked as a "volunteer" at a number of PGA Tournaments over the years in the Washington DC area including the last US Open at Congressional.When the subject of Nick Price came up I remarked how I enjoyed watching him play and how he seemed such a nice guy.My friends response was "I thought so too until I asked him for an autograph for my son and he just gave me a dirty look and walked off".He also said he had spoken to other volunteers at the Kemper who had similiar stories about Price.

Maybe Nick's karma or the golf gods are trying to tell him something.?

I have never met him but it is sad that sometimes people confuse their "net worth" with their " self worth".

theinsider · February 7, 2007

Sorry to hear of your negative experiences guys. I have had several encounters with the man (golf tournaments, trade shows, etc.) and all have been VERY positive.

Looking forward to seeing Nick Price competing again and winning!!

;)

Keyser Soze · February 7, 2007

well, my friend works at an animal shelter and he told me that nick price donates money to various animal shelters so that he can kick lots of sick dogs. apparently he likes to kick the little dogs that look the hungriest. ;)

you know that volunteers aren't supposed to ask for autographs right? using a kid is even worse, even though we all know that 10 year old boys idolize the 50 year old price.

NEVA3PUTT · February 9, 2007

NOT A KNOCK AGAINST PRICE BUT EVERYTIME A ROOKIE COMES

TOO THE CHAMPONS TOUR THEY HYPE HIM UP

AS FRED FUNK PLAYS BOTH TOURS HE'LL COMAND ATTENION

theinsider · February 10, 2007

As far as hype is concerned..of course the Champions Tour would market their new players - they would be fools not to. They can hardly throw their marketing efforts behind the fact they play short courses, with easy pins, with no cuts. :cheesy:

And for the record- "hype" is building a marketing campaign around someone with no credentials. ie. "something out of nothing."

As a multiple major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member - there is no "hype" necessary for Mr. Price. His presence alone will garner attention as his game gets back in shape and plays more on the Champions Tours.

The same can be said for Norman, O'Meara, Langer, Faldo, Ballesteros, and Sluman as they all are, or soon will, become elgible to play with the over 50 crowd.

;)