IRELAND: GOLF - US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman owes up to first mistake in his preparations.

Tom Lehman, making his debut as U.S. Ryder Cup captain at the K Club this week, owned up to his first rookie mistake on Wednesday. Because of bad weather on the second day of official team practice, the Americans decided to work on their short game and Lehman inadvertently let down eager fans crammed around the first tee. "I've got no experience coaching, zero, and you do make mistakes continually," the 47-year-old said during a news conference at the K Club. "We decided to focus on wedges, nine-irons, putting and chipping and wanted to go on the course, make it fun, as opposed to sitting on the practice range and on the greens. "So we walk down to the first hole to about 120 yards short of the green and started from there and kind of left everybody sitting in the stands by the first tee waiting. "That was a mistake. We should have hit a tee shot at least on the first tee. I apologise, that was my mistake." Lehman, a veteran of three Ryder Cups as a player, has otherwise been a model of discipline as U.S. captain in his attention to detail. He pulled off a master stroke at the end of last month by taking his entire 12-man team on a two-day trip to the K Club to strengthen bonding. He has also been decisive in his strategic planning and settled on his pairings for Friday's opening fourballs a week ago. The U.S. are bidding to end a run of four defeats by Europe in the last five matches and Lehman's team are eager for action. "We all feel so prepared," he said. "Everybody is ready to play and totally prepared with the golf course and their games. "Over the last 10 Ryder Cups, the European team has been the strongest in this team format and I would say they have to be the favourite here in Ireland. "But I wouldn't say they are huge favourites, because both teams are very capable." The 36th edition of the Ryder Cup, being staged in Ireland for the first time in the event's 79-year history, starts on Friday. European captain Ian Woosnam rang the changes when he announced his pairings for Wednesday's practice session at the K Club. The Welshman paired Jose Maria Olazabal with Swede Robert Karlsson and put Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald together in the first group out. Woosnam's second group featured wildcard picks Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, the only pairing unchanged from Tuesday's practice, along with Paul Casey and David Howell. The final group featured Colin Montgomerie alongside Padraig Harrington, together with Henrik Stenson and Paul McGinley. Due to the inclement weather at the K Club, the Europeans will initially play nine holes only. High winds forced organisers to close the course for three and a half hours at the start of the day. Woosnam said he gave his team the option of going out on to the course and was delighted when they all agreed to play. "I said to the lads I would like you to play nine holes, it gives them some idea what conditions may be like for the next few days," he told reporters. "All the lads wanted to play and I was really pleased. "I would have understood if the guys didn't want to go out and ruin their swings (in this weather) so I gave them an option. "With 40,000-odd people wanting to watch, I also thought it was important for the players to maybe go to the practice range, hit a few balls and sign a few autographs."

ITN Source | September 21, 2006

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