James blast for Euro bosses

Mark James, part of Sam Torrance’s backroom team again for this September’s Ryder Cup, has called Europe’s cup committee ‘‘gutless’’.

James, who caused such a controversy with his first autobiography two years ago, also says in his latest book Nick Faldo was on a ‘‘search-and-destroy mission’’ aimed at him following his captaincy of the 1999 side.

In the week Torrance revealed James was back on board as a member of his think-tank for Europe’s attempt to win back the trophy, James’ thoughts on other matters have been serialised in the Daily Express.

On the events which eventually led to his resignation as vice-captain in July 2000 James said of the Ryder Cup committee: ‘‘To my mind they were obviously too gutless to make any real decision on the issues Nick and I were arguing about.

‘‘They wanted me to resign and I didn’t see any point in refusing.’’

On Faldo James now admits throwing a good luck letter from the six-time major winner and former team-mate into a bin on the eve of the 1999 match ‘‘may have been a little bit hurtful’’.

But he stands his ground over the row that followed.

‘‘I felt my book was nothing if not fair. What Faldo failed to realise was that everything I wrote about what happened in the team room was first of all cleared with the players to whom I referred.

‘‘But it certainly looked as if Faldo and his backers (Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Jean van der Velde included according to James) had embarked on a search-and-destroy mission and there are no prizes for guessing who was the target.’’

‘‘Accusations were thrown at me left, right and centre all of which was rather unpleasant, especially to be called a liar when it was far removed from the truth.’’

When questioned about the book this weekend Faldo, who insists he does not want another controversy, said: ‘‘If there is more to get my attention we shall see. Watch this space.’’