Lehman hopes for harmony at 'Irish' Ryder Cup

New American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman is to put the emphasis on togetherness in the build-up to the first-ever match on Irish soil.

Lehman, named last night as successor to Hal Sutton in the wake of their heaviest-ever defeat, believes that for the first time in the history of the event, Europe will be favourites next time.

But the 45-year-old former Open champion is not going to wait until 2006 to get his likely team members thinking of how to reverse a trend which has seen the United States win only three of the last 10 clashes.

“It starts now,” commented Lehman. “By the time we get to the K Club I want them to be really, really ready to play.

“I have a ton of ideas, but the bottom line is that you need to be thinking of ways to build stronger camaraderie.

“What makes a team a team is relationships – people who care about each other and are prepared to put the team first. I want the star to be the team.

“We have a bunch of talented individuals who have done incredible things, but we seem to have a difficult time at the Ryder Cup. I want to create an environment where they can play the best golf they can possible play. No more, no less.”

Sutton decided to pair Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in Detroit but broke the news to them only on the eve of the event. They had not practised together, they are known not to be close and they lost both their games.

Lehman’s appointment will surprise many.

His last involvement in the match was in Boston in 1999, a match remembered for the invasion of the 17th green before the match was decided.

Sam Torrance, Europe’s vice-captain at the time, later said in his autobiography: “The spectators behaved like animals and some of the American players, most notably Lehman, acted like madmen.”

He also famously said on television at the time: “Tom Lehman calls himself a man of God, but his behaviour today has been disgusting.”

In a telephone conversation a month later Lehman, even dubbed the “Beast of Brookline”, apologised to Torrance “from the bottom of my heart” and last night he said: “The past couple of matches have shown that what happened is a thing of the past. I am sure the sportsmanship and respect will continue – we are well beyond the incident.

“But what makes the Ryder Cup fantastic is the emotional side. It would not be the Ryder Cup without it.

“I am a very emotional, passionate, impulsive person and what a thrill and an honour this is. Sometimes you never dream big enough and this was beyond my wildest dreams. It is a thrill beyond belief.”

Lehman took the opportunity to add, however, that he will be trying to play his way onto the team.

“That is my ultimate ambition and if I win three times say and think I will be an asset then yes, I will play.”

He does not yet know who will be opposing him as Europe’s captain. Bernhard Langer has yet to say whether he would be prepared to stay on if asked and the European Tour’s tournament committee is expected to discuss the matter at their next meeting next month.

Lehman certainly expects no problems from Irish fans. “They are the nicest and most warm-hearted people in the world,” he said.