Lehman under pressure to lead by example

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman has been told that the players want him on the team if he qualifies this weekend.

Lehman is 19th on the points table entering the last counting event, the US PGA championship at Medinah, but a top-seven finish on Sunday would still give him the chance to be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

While the 47-year-old is thought to have made up his mind not to unless he actually wins the final major of the season, which would see him finish fourth in the two-year race, there is pressure on him to think again.

Between practice rounds in Chicago Lehman was “cornered” by Chris DiMarco, who thanks to his second place in the British Open behind Tiger Woods is virtually certain of his place.

“We’ve all talked about it,” DiMarco told him. “If you make the team you’re playing. Period. No conversation. No argument from you. We’re going to make you play.”

Lehman was not about to cave in to player power, however.

“Well, that’s very nice,” he replied. “But I am the captain and I get to make that decision.”

Nobody from the Professional Golfers’ Association of America will mount any objections if Lehman wants to double up.

“We think that, if Tom is comfortable with it, it can be done and we would support his effort,” said president Roger Warren.

However, the issue is not as big in Lehman’s mind as his two wildcards.

He admitted yesterday: “I’m going to be completely honest with you. I don’t have the first clue who I’m going to pick.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m clueless, but there are four, five, six players who could fit and I just don’t know which two of those are the ones.

“I’ve got it somewhat narrowed down and if somebody has a big week this week that kind of throws more into the equation.

“We’ve had a number of guys over the last few weeks who had a chance to make a big move and the pressure playing for more than just the tournament is sometimes very difficult, so not a lot has happened lately.”

Davis Love and Fred Couples, with 11 caps between them, are 15th and 16th on the table respectively.

But Couples has not played in the match for nine years, is 46 and has had more back trouble recently. He was joint-third in the British Masters in April, but has not had a single top-10 finish since.

Love, four years younger, has been a member of the last six sides, but has not had a top-10 finish since he was runner-up to Geoff Ogilvy in the Accenture World Matchplay in February.

Lehman said: “He is a leader and people look to him, but he needs a good tournament (this week), no doubt about it.

"Experience can be a good thing or a bad thing.”

Before play started today Lehman was speaking at a service outside the clubhouse in memory of Heather Clarke. Darren Clarke’s wife died from cancer on Sunday morning and her funeral was taking place at the same time.

“There are a number of people who could have been asked, but maybe they are just so emotional about it and so close that they would prefer to let somebody else say a few words.

“So they asked me if I would just say a few words, which of course I am honoured to do.

“This year has been a difficult year for a number of people. I mean, Tiger’s father passing away, Chris’ (DiMarco) mother passing away, Heather Clarke passing away just a few days ago.

“To me it brings home the reality that this (the Ryder Cup) is just a golf match, a sporting event.”