War of words over Torrance's 10th tee remark

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance had to make a humiliating climb down yesterday as the result of an unfortunate comment made during a press conference.

At issue was the location of the tee at the famous 310 yards par four 10th where the green is driveable providing players avoid the towering trees, the lake and the little stream in front on all sides of the putting surface. When playing from the back tee, most will lay up with six or seven irons but in the fourballs several may be tempted to let loose. But if the tee marker is pushed forward 20 yards or so, most go for broke and that, of course, appeals hugely to the fans.

Torrance insisted all along that only the back tee will be used and his American counterpart Curtis Strange has also been reassured on this point by Sam and chief referee John Paramore.

However, the closeness that existed between the captains cooled when Torrance said at his press conference: "It won't be moved up unless it's requested by my players, but I don't think it's going to be."

That, of course, went down like a lead balloon with Strange who understandably suspected some European skullduggery might be afoot and prompted Torrance to take the unprecedented step of returning to the media centre to clarify the situation.

"I don't know what made me say the tee will not be moving forward," he declared. "I have reassured Curtis on this and apologised." Both captains are claiming the attitude in their respective camps couldn't be better but, one is inclined to place greater emphasis on the words of Torrance. For it hasn't gone unnoticed that Tiger Woods, as if following up on his much publicised words at Mount Juliet last week, isn't exactly carrying himself with the disposition of a man happy to be here or one totally in harmony with his captain.

The issue of what was going to happen at the 10th raised its head after David Duval drove off yesterday morning. Smelling a rat, Strange suggested to him that he should also play a shot from the front of the tee box in case Torrance decided to use it at some stage of the matches. Love responded by wondering aloud if Strange thought he might actually do something like that, and did as he was asked.

A few minutes later, his captain made the same request of Woods who tersely replied 'no' and his playing partners Paul Azinger, Scott Hoch and Mark Calcavecchia duly followed suit in refusing.

Not unexpectedly, the incident never happened as far as Strange was concerned, saying: "I have been assured that the tee will be back every match and my only concern is that my team has to prepare. So if the tees go up one day and they haven't practised there, then something is not right."

Perhaps too much could be read into a development of this nature but one wonders if Woods isn't the team man he purports to be. On the other hand, he may well have been right in this instance given Torrance's reiteration of the situation.

"It was never designed as a par three and I wouldn't insult the architect by turning it into one," said Torrance.

"It's a fantastic hole off the back tee. It's still possible to reach the green from there but there's a bigger risk and that's the way I want it."

Strange, for his part, insists everything in his team room is just as he would have wanted it.

"I have to admit the guys are great fun and they are very relaxed and having a great time.

"It is part of my responsibility is to ensure they have a wonderful week, not to only just play well but also to have fun with each other and get to know each other better.

"So far, so good, it's been perfect, it really has.

"You can include Tiger in that. He's fine, he's raring to go," Strange said.