Golf: Lehman decision infuriates fans

High winds and high dudgeon dominated the second day of Ryder Cup practice here yesterday as between them Mother Nature and the American team contrived to infuriate Irish golf fans.

Both will have to forge a change of attitude if the supporters are to be assuaged.

For while the morning storms meant the 45,000-strong crowd being locked out until 10am, Tom Lehman's reaction to it only exacerbated a frustrating day.

After the Europe captain Ian Woosnam had sent out his team to play nine holes in their likely foursomes pairings, his United States counterpart committed a public relations calamity by sending his team out in one group, effectively to play nine holes of "pitch and putt".

This involved all 12 of his team walking up to within 150 yards of the green and playing from there.

The many fans who had stayed waiting, freezing and windswept, in the stands and behind the ropes behind the tee boxes were therefore denied seeing Tiger Woods and Co playing up close and for those who had paid up to £400 on the black market, this was very bad form.

The boos rang out down the first hole as the realisation struck home that their vigil had been in vain and then for the next seven holes, apart from on two par threes.

One furious spectator summed up the anger on the fifth hole when shouting out: "You're a disgrace. You have no regard for the Irish fan."

But still the American team persisted, not relenting until their last hole, the ninth, when they deemed to drive off.

It was too late as the boos continued to rain down.

Lehman's PR gaffe reminded one of Curtis Strange's at The Belfry in 2002 when he allowed Woods to practice at 6.30am, before the crowds had arrived.

Yesterday, the American captain, realising his error, issued an apology.

"It was a mistake," he said.

"You know we should hit a tee shot at least on the first hole to satisfy all those fans waiting in the stands. I apologise. I'm learning as I go along and am going to make mistakes."

Meanwhile, fears were eased that the Ryder Cup was destined to go into a Monday finish when the European Tour announced that forecasters had reassured them that the 40mph winds whipped up by the tail end of Hurricane Gordon yesterday were unlikely to strike again.

"This was a one-off today," said a Tour spokesman, before going on to apologise for the delays which meant some fans having to wait two hours for buses at the park and ride sites.

- INDEPENDENT