lehman seeking recipe for success
Lehman - looking for winning formula.
By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent
Played by just 24, watched by billions, loved by Europeans, loathed by Americans. Or so it has seemed in recent years. The next instalment of the Ryder Cup, one of sport's most eagerly-awaited events, is almost upon us. And even Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the two superstars of the United States side, might struggle to counter the argument that for the first clash on Irish soil Europe are favourites for the first time. The K Club west of Dublin, which has hosted the last 12 European Opens, now stages what should be a monumental battle. Ian Woosnam captains the home team and while he undoubtedly will be hard pressed to match what Bernhard Langer did, it can only fill him with confidence that many of the players who inflicted on the Americans their heaviest drubbing two years ago are back again. It was, just to remind you, a massive 18 1/2-9 1/2 landslide in Detroit and, having won by three points at The Belfry in 2002, Europe have a chance for an unprecedented hat-trick of victories. What the United States can cling to, of course, is that they faced the same situation in 1999 and even from four points down going into the last day singles they fought back to triumph - albeit after that never-to-be-lived-down shameful stampede on the 17th before Jose Maria Olazabal attempted the putt that could have kept the contest alive. Tom Lehman was dubbed "The Beast of Brookline" for his part in that unedifying moment for American sport, but to the surprise of many he is the man entrusted with the task of grabbing back the famous gold trophy. Lehman has willingly accepted the role of underdogs for his side - he has seen how well that has worked for Europe - and his belief that it can be different this time is founded on the fact that in last September's Presidents Cup win the United States appeared to discover the meaning of team spirit. However, beating an International side featuring the likes of Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Adam Scott and Michael Campbell is one thing. It does not come close to the cauldron that is the Ryder Cup. Paul Casey felt a lot of heat late in 2004 for his controversial comment that "we properly hate them" and Chris DiMarco stated that the Presidents Cup "does not have the hatred of the Ryder Cup". But even if you accept that hate is not quite the right word the intensity is what gets people glued to their armchairs from the opening drive to the closing putt two days later. It is a measure of how appealing a match largely ignored by the outside sporting world for most of its life has become that when one ends you cannot wait for the next. Woods uncharacteristically stoked the fires of rivalry when asked in Shanghai last November if he had himself witnessed bad sportsmanship since he made his debut at Valderrama in 1997. "Let's not say sportsmanship. How about gamesmanship?" he replied before declining to give an example. The world number one, with a record of only seven wins, two halves and 11 defeats in the event, added that he had more fun in Presidents Cup week compared to Ryder Cup week "without a doubt". And when pressed on why he said: "Probably because we're all good friends and you see more concessions and more sportsmanship - good sportsmanship. "That's the way it's supposed to be played and how the Ryder Cup used to be played. Now it's starting to get back to that. The Presidents Cup is a lot more enjoyable because of how the sportsmanship is conducted. "That's the nature of why both tournaments were started and unfortunately the Ryder Cup got a little side-tracked." There have definitely been moments - Kiawah Island in 1991 and Brookline in 1999 were the low points - when the event has gone over the top, but what fabulous memories it has provided too. And Irish golfers are to the fore when recalling some of the best. Eamonn Darcy was a hero of the first win on American soil in 1987, Christy O'Connor Jnr hit the two-iron of his life two years later, Philip Walton won the match in 1995 and Paul McGinley did the same in 2002. Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington have also played massive parts, but wherever the players have come from - 11 countries have been represented in the last four matches - they have presented a united front. Woosnam and Lehman have vastly different starting points then. Woosnam's job is to keep the same ingredients together, while Lehman is seeking every way he can to change things. Not putting Woods and Mickelson together is an easy one. That went horribly wrong for Hal Sutton last time. Jim Furyk and DiMarco respectively became the two partners for the two leading lights at the Presidents Cup and there appears no reason for Lehman not to try that again, for openers at least. Amazingly, Woods has not gained even half a point from the first day's fourballs and foursomes since his maiden appearance nine years ago. Prior to the clash at The Belfry in 2002 he confessed that he wanted to win a world championship more than he wanted to win the Ryder Cup. In 1999 he labelled it "an exhibition" and two years ago he wondered how many people knew Jack Nicklaus's Ryder Cup record. The point he was making there was that how he performs is not for what he will primarily be remembered. He is right in that, of course, but it is part of his story and so far not a very good part. Lehman insists, though, that he has heard it from the man himself how much he wants to win this one. And heard it from others as well. "Any American player right now, they're sick and tired of losing. Sick and tired of hearing the fact that they're not together as a team, that they don't get along. I think you'll see a very committed group of guys in Ireland." Europe have not only won the last two, they have won four of the last five. And it could so easily have been five of the last five. Yes they are favourites, but by no means does that mean it will be easy. Stand by for yet another thriller.
