By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

WORDL Golf Hall of Fame member Larry Nelson was on Saipan for two days to make minor changes at the Coral Ocean Point course.
“COP will be celebrating its 20 th anniversary next year and I am here to enhance what’s already here,” said Nelson, who designed the Agingan Point-based course in 1987.
“Changes will be made to make the course prettier and take advantage of the view. We might move a green or add a couple of tees,” added Nelson, who clarified that the changes will not make life difficult for par busters, who play at the 7,156-yard course.
Nelson arrived on Saipan last Sunday and, since he is planning to undergo an operation on his neck and back, he did not have the chance to play at COP and is no longer that active in playing and instead, is concentration on designing courses.
“We are currently designing one in Utah,” said Nelson, who after turning 50 in 1997, started playing on the Championship Tour.
Before Nelson retired, he was able to plat against Tiger Woods at the LA Open at Riviera.
“I think that was his first year and everybody knew he would make it big. We just didn’t know how big,” said Nelson, who was glad to see a new face at Augusta with Zach Johnson beating Woods and two others for the green jacket.
Johnson had three birdies in the crucial four-hole stretch last Sunday to finish with 3-under 69. The Iowa native had a total of 1-over par 289 after four rounds for a two-shot lead over Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatani. It was only his second victory.
“Zach Johnson is a very nice gut. I have yet to plat against him, but I did meet him. It’s great to have someone who is not super known win the Masters. Phil and Tiger did not play in the tournament and Johnson did what should be done on the last day,” Nelson said.
Nelson started playing golf in 1974 and has had numerous accomplishments. He qualified for the PGA Tour at 27, won three majors and placed second to Tom Watson on the money list in 1979.
But what he cherishes most was his stint on the US team during the 1987 Ryder Cup.
“We had a really good Ryder Cup team. It was a very good experience playing with the best in the US and playing against Europe’s top golfers,” said Nelson, who also played in the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1981.
Among his teammates in 1987 were team captain Jack Nicklaus, Watson, Hal Sutton, Dan Pohl, Curtis Strange, Tom Kite, Ken Brown, Bernhard Langer and Payne Stewart.
He and Stewart lost to Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, 2 and 1, on the first day of the tournament.
Europe went on to win the tournament held at the Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio, 15-13.
Nelson has two sons trying to follow in their father’s footsteps.
The 28-year old Josh is an amateur golfer, while the 30-year old Drew is trying to qualify for the PGA Tour.
He said Josh has more talent, but Drew has more desire to make it big in the PGA.