European Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam took the opportunity of a visit to the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, to present two vice captains that will help him prepare for next year's penultimate event in golf.
Meanwhile, United States Ryder Cup Captain Tom Lehman
Ryder Cup captains Tom Lehman (left) and Ian Woosnam address the media during a European Tour event. (Photo: Getty Images)
used the opportunity to compete and to learn more about the course where he will guide a team with hopes of regaining the trophy that has slipped through America's grasp since 1999.
The two Captains appeared at a news conference, June 29, 2005, at The K Club. The 36th Ryder Cup is scheduled to be held there, Sept. 22-24, 2006.
"I almost didn't recognize the course," said Lehman, who went on to finish 72nd in the Smurfit European Open. "The last time I played here was 1996, and the course has matured beautifully. It has improved, I think, significantly…. I like the course. I love the course now. I hope the guys on our team love it as much as I do.
"I think that being in Ireland, it will be a special occasion for this Ryder Cup. I love this country and ours, a lot of shared values and shared people. So, I think the chance to be here is really a dream come true for me."
Woosnam, who later missed the cut in the event, had announced that England's Peter Baker and Ireland's Des Smyth will serve as his vice captains. Baker competed on the European Ryder Cup Team in 1993, while Smyth played in 1979 and 1981.
Woosnam said that he is encouraged by the strong performances of European Tour players in America, including Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who has won two PGA Tour events.
"It's great to see him come back to form," said Woosnam. "That's a great spirit for the guys coming up. What is going to be interesting is to see what schedules they (European Tour players in the U.S.) have got next year.
"Obviously, that is going to be a little bit of a problem for me, guys playing in America, and who is going to play in Europe. So, well have to see what the situation is when we come down to it. I guess the two [Captain's] picks are going to be very important at the end of the day."
Lehman said that he had one explanation for the U.S. falling by a record 18 ½ to 9 ½ margin in the 2004 Matches.
"I think the U.S. Team tends to play with a little more pressure, self-inflicted pressure, a little more fear of failure, possibly," said Lehman. "There's a lot of expectation on the U.S. Team in America to always - you talked about just showing up and winning. That's kind of always been the expectation -- that U.S. Teams have to show up to win, and as we've seen over and over again, not just golf but all sports, that doesn't really hold true anymore.
"Our Tour has changed, and one of the main reasons why, I believe, is the number of international players who play our Tour. There are something like 79 now, and 20 years ago, I think there was 10. You have to be a Phil Mickelson or a Tiger Woods, or that caliber of player, to step right in and make a difference now as a young player in America. As we all know, golf is all about opportunity. You get the opportunity, the chance to play, and you improve."
Lehman said that he expects many more American players to make a visit to The K Club prior to the 2006 Ryder Cup.
"There will be plenty of opportunity in the future for Americans to be here on this golf course, and I can assure you, you'll see a whole bunch of them."
