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Coming off the United States' worst Ryder Cup loss in history -- and four losses in the last five matches -- officers from the PGA of America charged with selecting the man who will lead the 2006 team are being lobbied by a group of past captains to consider a surprising choice: Larry Nelson.

At first glance the past captains' push for Nelson might seem like a make-up call to a contemporary who was passed over for the job a decade ago. But in reality the choice of Nelson, 57, one of the most decorated Ryder Cup performers in United States history, a steely veteran with an understated toughness that mirrors the leadership qualities of European captain Bernhard Langer, could mark the beginning of a new era in the U.S. Ryder Cup process. Many view change as a necessity after the Americans' horrendous nine-point loss at Oakland Hills CC two weeks ago.

"[Larry] may be quiet," Dave Stockton told Golf World, "but he knows how the Ryder Cup works."

The emergence of the past captains began when the PGA of America

The candidates

Paul Azinger Pros: Fits the recent profile (44, past PGA champion, fiery Ryder Cup player); the job is his if he wants it. Cons: Might be too young to be willing to burn two years of play on tour. Larry Nelson Pro: The council of past captains wants him. Cons: Distance from today's players. Also, if the PGA decides to go older and select Nelson, what about Hale Irwin? Mark O'Meara Pros: Irish heritage, friendship with Tiger Woods and influential Irishman J.P. McManus. Con: Role in '99 Ryder Cup money flap could haunt him. Fred Couples Pros: Everybody's favorite guy. The team certainly would be loose. Cons: Lack of decisiveness. Would he lean on Davis Love III to make the tough decisions? Corey Pavin Pros: Age, career accomplishments, record in Ryder Cup. Cons: Timing. Currently in the midst of hard-earned resurgence, which he might not want to interrupt. Tom Lehman Pros: Possesses the fire and passion lacking this year. Cons: Like Nelson, may lack the star-power - and connections - to get the job.

invited them to Oakland Hills to participate in the festivities, observe the competition and participate in closed-door discussions about the Ryder Cup. Nine past captains accepted the invitation. Sources told Golf World there was a strong sentiment within the group for the association to reconsider the captain's model it adopted in the late-1980s: a player in his mid-to-late 40s, still familiar with the PGA Tour brethren who would make the team and able to commit to the 18-24 months worth of preparation for the event at the expense of his playing career. Instead, the past captains' group pushed for older players, arguing greater authority and less familiarity might produce better results.

"Our idea is a [captain who commands] more respect," said Lanny Wadkins, relating it to his experience of playing for Dow Finsterwald in 1977. "When players aren't as close to him, they might stop and listen sometimes."

As a result, Nelson's name joins a short list that includes Paul Azinger (perceived to be the favorite among PGA officials who still prefer the prevailing captain's model), Fred Couples, Mark O'Meara, Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman. A decision is expected in the next two weeks when the PGA's three active officers (president M.G. Orender, vice president Roger Warren and secretary Brian Whitcomb) and its immediate past president (Jack Connelly) meet with Jim Awtrey, the association's CEO. Awtrey has a voice but not a vote in the process; the other four men are the committee that will determine the next captain.

"I look at the past captains the way the PGA looks at the past presidents -- everybody has opinions, all of them respected," said Connelly. "I will tell you [Nelson is] back in the mix because of what some of the past captains have said."

As a two-time winner of the PGA Championship and possessor of a glittering Ryder Cup playing record (9-3-1 in three appearances, including 5-0 in 1979), Nelson was considered a shoo-in to lead an American team at some point during the 1990s. Instead, he watched as Stockton, Tom Watson, Wadkins and Tom Kite -- some of them past PGA champions, some not -- got the nod. By the time Ben Crenshaw was selected to captain the 1999 team, Nelson's chances appeared dead. But that was then. Nelson since has been in contact with the committee and affirmed he would sacrifice two years on the Champions Tour to serve as captain.

"I thought my time had passed," Nelson said from the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. "But looking at everything that's gone on in the last two to three years I think I would be remiss if I didn't do it if I was asked to do it."

The natural slot for him was against Seve Ballesteros at Valderrama in '97, but Nelson, 48 at the time of the selection in 1995, lost to Kite whom (selectors felt) was closer to the players and would make a more dynamic leader. Typically, Nelson accepted the disappointment stoically and went on to a successful Champions Tour career, winning 17 events and the 2000 Player of the Year Award and money title.

"It doesn't do you good to harbor any malice," Nelson said. "They did what they thought was best, and I wasn't a part of it. Upset, yes. Disappointed, yes. But a lot of great players have not been a Ryder Cup captain so I couldn't say I should have been [either]."

Nelson is almost three decades older than Tiger Woods and 17 years removed from his last Ryder Cup, but he doesn't believe those are problems. "I actually think for every negative there's a positive," Nelson said. "Being more subjective, being less close ... maybe they'd benefit. You see enough of these guys on TV -- how they finish really tells you a lot. I don't know if you can't learn as much, maybe even more, by standing in the background watching [instead of] being around them on a daily basis."

The "Motor City Mauling" made Nelson, a Vietnam vet, want the job even more. But he's not getting his hopes up.

"I won't even be disappointed this time," Nelson said. "If it doesn't happen, I'll be no worse off than I was two weeks ago."

Who should be the next U.S. captain?

Larry Nelson There is time for a gaggle of fortysomething Americans to get their shot later. Give this captaincy to Nelson, who won two PGAs and a U.S. Open after not taking up golf in earnest until he was an adult following service in Vietnam. Nelson had a superb Ryder Cup record and is one of the game's solid citizens and players. Nelson would be neither too serious nor too flippant as captain. He would be a mature leader to help America regain the cup. --Bill Fields Arnold Palmer Think Chris Riley would have turned down The King if he asked him to go back out and play a second match with Tiger? Palmer commands so much respect, even at age 75, he could be the inspiration needed to get the Yanks fired up again about the Ryder Cup. Just try to find anyone who wouldn't play hard and perform for Arnie, who, meanwhile, is 3-0 as a captain in international competition. --Ryan Herrington Bernhard Langer Not that he'd do it, but if a former medal-winning Jamaican sprinter runs for Slovenia in the Olympics and the Governor of California is a former body builder from Austria, why can't the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain be a German-born major champion who lives in Florida with his American wife and spends a lot of time on the PGA Tour? Don't say tradition. Once you lose by nine points on home turf, tradition goes out the window. --John Antonini John Daly One of the many ways in which the Europeans were better than the Americans at Oakland Hills was in the enjoyment category. They simply had more fun than the U.S. That wouldn't be the case with Daly in charge. The American parties would be better, and the clothing couldn't be any worse. Besides, Daly could make up for one of Hal Sutton's mistakes at this year's Ryder Cup and make himself a captain's pick. --Ron Sirak