The Belfry,
AT yesterday's stage of Ryder Cup week, when the members of the
European and American sides have three extensive sessions available for
practice before a ball is struck with malice aforethought, all the 24
players can do is talk a game. There is something about this period that
resembles a phoney war, the lull before the hostilities.
This unreality was identified by Europe's captain, Bernard Gallacher,
when he said: ''The first few days are enjoyable, the last few not so
much.'' The relaxed atmosphere, the exchange of jokes, the signing of
autographs, the striking of bets, and the discussions on strategy -- all
these on Friday will give way to the sterner demands of the thirtieth
match.
Sam Torrance, approaching his seventh successive encounter, talked of
the strength of the American teams before 1983, when Europe abandoned
being the biennial whipping boy. ''This side of theirs has great
players,'' Torrance observed, ''but none as intimidating as Nicklaus,
Trevino, and Watson. The difference is we'll still be nervous, but not
scared.''
Mark James, in his deadpan fashion, said: ''The only thing that scares
me about the United States is the clothes they wear. This is the
strongest European side of the six I've been a member of -- not a
weakness, except for myself.'' He and Torrance seem likely to form a
matched set.
Perhaps Torrance's description of competing in the match ''that every
hole is like playing the last in the Open championship in contention,''
will restore Josie-Maria Olazabal's dormant self-esteem.
There is no doubt that Olazabal seems to thrive in tandem with
Severiano Ballesteros. They have lost only one of 12 foursomes and four
balls; they alone played throughout yesterday's foursomes practice as
Gallacher changed all his other horses in midstream; they are together
again today; and it seems as if only a stun grenade would put asunder
this Hispanic brotherhood.
Olazabal said, ''We're careful and we never give up.''
Neither did Bernhard Langer, who was watched for six holes by his
captain to see whether the German's neck and shoulder injury was
seriously inhibiting his swing. Gallacher's judgment was that ''he
played well, not like someone who hadn't hit balls for three weeks.''
Langer and Colin Montgomerie made an effective team, as they did in 1991
in a four ball.
Gallacher will stay with his decision, taken on Monday, to wait for an
adverse overnight reaction before he decides, no later than midday that
Langer is fit or whether to call in Ronan Rafferty.
The opposition having recovered from their Concorde flight, also took
to the field with their only walking wounded player evidently fully
mended. Lanny Wadkins, the veteran of seven previous matches, had to
withdraw from the Canadian Open two weeks ago because of a strained
back, from which he has recovered completely.
Tom Watson, the United States leader, more or less confirmed that Fred
Couples and Raymond Floyd, a successful partnership in 1991, are to be
reunited.
Watson declared: ''I want to win, but every European team has more
depth and talent than the one before it. I intend playing to our
strength to gain a quick lead.''
* JOHNNIE WALKER, the title sponsor of the Ryder Cup match, has agreed
to extend its interest to the 1997 contest, which is to played on the
Continent for the first time, somewhere in Spain. In 1995, when the
match is at Oak Hill, Rochester, New York, the company will sponsor the
European team.
* EUROPE'S golf writers beat their American counterparts 6[1/2]-5[1/2]
in the now traditional Ryder Cup week contest yesterday -- and it could
be an omen for Bernard Gallacher's team.
Whichever side has lifted the trophy in the last six years has also
gone on to hold the Ryder Cup aloft.
Europe's hero was John Hopkins, golf correspondent of The Times. In
Bernhard Langer fashion, he faced a six-foot putt on the last green of
the last match -- and holed it.
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