Lehman hoping to put Brookline behind him

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman wants his behaviour at the 1999 match in Boston to become “a dead issue” by the time he leads his side in Ireland this September.

But when asked about it yet again at this week’s Buick Invitational in California Lehman insisted he never even touched the 17th green at Brookline after Justin Leonard holed his 45-foot putt.

What happened that afternoon is the most controversial incident in the history of the Ryder Cup.

The United States camp started to celebrate even though Jose Maria Olazabal still had a putt to keep the match alive – and Sam Torrance, assistant to European captain Mark James, singled out former Open champion Lehman for criticism.

“Calls himself a man of God? That was the most disgraceful thing I have ever seen,” said an enraged Torrance in a television interview.

In his book ‘Into The Bear Pit’, James wrote about Lehman running on to the green, “trying to break the 100 metres record in an effort to get to Leonard.”

Aware of Torrance’s comment, James stated: “I thought it was not so much a question of Lehman’s beliefs, more an indication of moral downfall.”

Lehman has not been involved in the match since but then to the surprise of many was appointed as Hal Sutton’s successor for the K Club near Dublin.

“I know it’s going to come up and it should be a dead issue, it really should be,” he said at Torrey Pines.

“You know, I never even stepped foot on the green – never even stepped foot on the green, didn’t lead the charge.”

Lehman, who added that his wife Melissa “goes crazy” whenever the matter is mentioned, is concentrating now on preparations for America’s attempt to avoid an unprecedented third successive defeat.

America beat the rest of the world (minus Europe) in the Presidents Cup in September.

“I was there and I watched it. Whatever the attitude was is the attitude we need,” said Lehman.

“I saw it as a bunch of guys being very focused, very relaxed, very calm, very determined. They seemed to enjoy the competition, enjoy the challenge – and I think that’s a huge part of it.

“You have to enjoy it; you have to like it. You have to be thrilled to be a part of it, and so that’s kind of what I’m looking forward to. I look forward to going out there, relishing the challenge and taking advantage of the chance to win something great.”

Lehman added Presidents Cup captain Jack Nicklaus is among the list of people he intends to discuss captaincy with – and when asked if there was something distinctive he hopes to bring to his side he replied: “A victory – that would be quite distinctive!”