Sam, I Am

Still bristling over Brookline, Torrance awaits a Ryder Cup rematch at the Belfry

"I am terrible. I am very much 100 percent in whatever I do."

By John Huggan

Photo By AP

July 2001

Both physically and spiritually, Sam Torrance is surrounded by Ryder Cup memories. Seated in the clubhouse at Wentworth, just outside London and site of the 1953 matches, he rolls his first cigarette of the day. Then, briefly satisfied by the first puff, he leans back in his chair and eyes his interviewer, Golf Digest Contributing Editor and fellow Scot John Huggan. Torrance looks perfectly content, but he's an emotional man. Almost two years ago, standing near the 17th green at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., he was not at all happy. In the immediate wake of Justin Leonard's Cup-deciding putt, a moment that would become the most controversial in the 72-year history of the Ryder Cup, Torrance was moved to question the sincerity of another man.

"And Tom Lehman calls himself a man of God!" said Europe's assistant captain, as Lehman and a celebrating group of teammates, caddies and wives cleared the green and allowed Jose Maria Olazabal to putt.

Two years removed from that eventful afternoon, Torrance, 47, is preparing to captain the European side for the 34th Ryder Cup Matches, Sept. 28-30 at the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England. A 21-time winner on the PGA European Tour, Torrance has fond memories of the Belfry. It's where he clinched the Ryder Cup for his side in 1985, beating Andy North, 1 up, in the decisive singles match to hand the United States its first defeat in 28 years. For Sam Torrance, the Ryder Cup is not just a game of golf.

Golf Digest: Clearly, the Ryder Cup means a lot to you. What makes it so special?

Sam Torrance: The thing about the Ryder Cup is that you can go up to, say, Nick Faldo on the eve of the matches and tell him you're really struggling with your chipping, and he'll help you. He'll tell you anything. Any of the superstars will. That doesn't happen any other week of the year. Even guys you don't particularly get on with become your friends for a week.

Your first experience as a Ryder Cup player came in 1981 at Walton Heath, where the U.S. team dominated. What do you remember most from that competition?

What a team they had. It was the dream team. They were magnificent. We were all in awe of them.

In the singles, I played Lee Trevino, who is a darling and a great friend for a long time. He said to me the night before, "Sam, I'm going to beat the mustache off you."

He did, too--beat me, 5 and 3. So for the victory dinner I shaved it off.

I don't know if I'd do it now, but it seemed funny at the time.

Early on, the Americans didn't seem to care as much about the Ryder Cup as the Europeans.

They didn't until we started beating them. Then they cared.

You were very outspoken about the Americans' celebration on the 17th green after Justin Leonard holed his putt at The Country Club in '99.

We've all got eyes; we all saw what happened. And it was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen on a golf course. The traditions of the game were made a mockery of. So it had to be said. It had to be said.If it's not said then, when are you going to say it?

I was completely in control of what I was saying. No question.

Have you repaired your relationship with Lehman after the controversy?

We've spoken. It was sorted. Not a problem. I won't tell you what was said. Most of it came from him. He said, "Sorry," basically. I have no regrets about what I said.

I was right there at the green when it happened. And before that, on the same green, when [Padraig] Harring-ton had a putt to halve the hole [against Mark O'Meara]. Lehman and [Ben] Crenshaw's missus ran right between Padraig and the hole.

Phil Mickelson has accused the Europeans of deliberately playing slowly to throw the Americans off.

Honestly, I was in every meeting and never heard that. Never. There was no policy regarding slow play.

Yet Mickelson was upset enough to tee off while Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke were still on the previous green.

Which is wrong. It's not up to their players to tell our players to move faster. That's not their job.

What about the length of time Harrington took to play his approach shot to the 17th green against O'Meara?

I'm sure that thought never entered his mind.

It did look bad.

Maybe. But I can assure you it wasn't done in that way.

Wasn't the behavior of the crowd a bigger problem? How much did you see of what went on?

A lot. I saw more of it than most. I was everywhere in my buggy.

Colin Montgomerie says that he wants the crowd to be into it at the Ryder Cup this year, but not too into it. Where do you draw the line?

It's a fine line. We're only human. I'm not condoning some of the stuff we've seen, but it is almost understandable. I draw the line at anything that puts a player off. If someone hits a ball into the water, you're going to get cheers. It's a natural reaction. It's not mocking the player. It's just that someone's situation has just vastly improved, so they get excited. But shouting on backswings or while someone is over the ball? No. I abhor that. Get as excited as you like, but be fair.

Who are these people who shout at the wrong moments? Can they be golfers?

Even a real golfer can get drunk. Alcohol does things to people. I can't believe that a golfer would shout out when sober.