Nicklaus' Muirfield a 'natural fit' for '13

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Let's look 40 months into the future. Specifically to the first weekend of October in 2013. Muirfield Village Golf Club will be the venue for The Presidents Cup, and that means Jack Nicklaus will do what Jack Nicklaus does best these days -- represent the game of golf in a most honorable and noble manner on the global stage.

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However, Nicklaus will be 73 years old then and not even the Golden Bear can stare down Father Time (although, on the flip side, not even Father Time can turn that golden shock of hair into grey). While Nicklaus is aging ever so gracefully, he is aging. Nicklaus himself is well aware of his mortality.

No wonder he sees the 2013 Presidents Cup as his potential swan song, his last great contribution to the game to which he's given so much.

Sure, the Summer Olympics are three years after that, and Nicklaus -- the biggest icon who helped to lobby for golf's inclusion in the Games in Brazil as well as the 2020 Summer Games -- could have some type of visible role.

But that's overseas, in a country with a limited golf presence, and with Nicklaus' involvement yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Muirfield Village is his baby, the first course he designed, the course that has hosted a Ryder Cup and a Solheim Cup, and now will complete the Triple Play with The Presidents Cup. Nicklaus has a passion for The Presidents Cup, having captained the U.S. team on four occasions. He loves the format, thinks it's better than the Ryder Cup. It's no wonder that he sees the 2013 event as a great opportunity to wave goodbye to the world.

"Probably be my last involvement in anything significant in the game of golf," Nicklaus said during Wednesday's announcement that Muirfield Village will host the biennial event pitting the U.S. team versus the Internationals.

Certainly, the PGA TOUR's decision was fueled by Nicklaus' involvement in The Presidents Cup competition through the years.

Commissioner Tim Finchem said that the TOUR initially was intrigued by returning to the West Coast, with San Francisco's Harding Park hosting The Presidents Cup in 2009 (Royal Melbourne in Australia will host in 2011). But there was also thought that the venue should be played in another part of the United States.

The commissioner said he couldn't remember which side first approached the other, although Nicklaus seemed to indicate that he told Finchem of his desire to host the event "before I get too old."

Once the talks with Nicklaus began, it was hard to imagine a better option.

"It was just a natural fit," Finchem said.

So, not only will 2013 be a global showdown, it will also be a chance to celebrate a golfer who is beloved in all countries, who transcends the game and whose sportsmanship knows no borders.

After all, it was Nicklaus, as U.S. Captain, who instigated the famous draw at the 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa that still resonates today. With International player Ernie Els facing a must-make putt in darkness, Nicklaus called Finchem and asked that the result be declared a draw. And then he convinced his U.S. team that it was the right thing to do, the "best thing for golf," Nicklaus recalled Wednesday.

"To be able to come and play at this place that Jack built and in doing so, recognize his involvement and commitment and contribution," Finchem said, "is an opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of."

Of course, with Muirfield Village now set to host the event, one other opportunity exists -- to consider Nicklaus as the U.S. Captain for the fifth time. Nicklaus is not keen on the idea.

"I'm sure that Tim will discuss it with me at the appropriate time," he said, "but also I think that I start to look at names of the players that are out there today, and I don't even know half of them.

"Personally, I think the captain needs to relate to the players. I related to all the players through my other teams I captained, everybody on my teams I played with. And I don't think it would be right for the team to have a captain that doesn't relate to his players."

But U.S. stalwart Phil Mickelson, asked about the possibility of Nicklaus being captain again (Fred Couples will captain the 2011 U.S. team for a second straight Presidents Cup) doesn't see that as a roadblock. "The players love spending time with him," Mickelson said.

Everybody does. That's why The Presidents Cup is coming to Muirfield Village in 2013. When you get a chance to honor Jack Nicklaus and his impact on golf, you take it -- no matter how old he'll be.