Smurfit calls for end to James affair

In his capacity as chief sponsor of the European Open and host to the 2005 Ryder Cup, Michael Smurfit yesterday called for an immediate end to the Mark James controversy. He claimed it was damaging both to sponsors and to the image of the game's biennial showpiece.

"The Ryder Cup is such a special, unique event that any controversy surrounding it has to be regrettable," he said. "This thing has snowballed almost out of control and the quicker it's resolved the better, in everybody's interests."

What has become known as the James affair, stems from the book Into The Bear Pit, which he has written on last year's Ryder Cup at Brookline, where he was captain of the defeated European team. Apart from being highly critical of Nick Faldo, who failed to make the side, he also suggested that players wouldn't be interested in playing in America again, because of the behaviour of the US team.

"I haven't read the book but it's the effects that it's having which concern me," added the Smurfit chairman, who is one of the most powerful sponsors on tour. "I read clippings from English papers and I consider it unfortunate that in certain cases, the focus has not been on this tournament but on controversy about something that happened last September in a book that came out recently. That makes me concerned as a sponsor."

He went on: "The thing should be cleared up - and fast - by the responsible bodies, which would appear to be the PGA European Tour and the Ryder Cup committee." Had he expressed such views at official level? "Yes, as recently as a few days ago," he replied.

"I don't wish to bring personalities into it, but you can take it that I've spoken to responsible people on the matter. I've told them this thing has to stop before further damage is inflicted on the Ryder Cup. It's doing the competition no good and it's doing sponsors such as ourselves no good."

Smurfit could get his wish, depending on the outcome of a meeting of the European Tour's tournament committee, scheduled for Loch Lomond tomorrow evening. James is chairman, Sweden's Mats Lanner is vice-chairman and the committee of 15 includes Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, who has been quite vocal on the issue.

Ken Schofield, executive director of the European Tour, will be attending and James expects the controversy to be raised under any other business. Essentially, the committee's power would be limited to a decision on James's competence to represent the players.

Meanwhile, next year's Ryder Cup captain, Torrance, has become very much embroiled in the issue through a ringing endorsement of James which appeared in the Daily Mail last Friday. In it, the Scot said of Faldo: "Some people like to rattle sabres and bang their own drum. It seems to me that Nick is trying to use this issue as some sort of revenge on Mark."

Torrance went on: "I think the crime was putting in the book the binning of Nick's telegram (of good wishes to the European team). That was personal, it was flippant and it was daft. It was nothing. I do not think the crime befits the punishment of having to resign."

He concluded: "I have always been in favour of James. I picked him and I want him to remain as vice-captain. If Mark had to leave, it would be sad and to the detriment of my team. I can't think of a better person for the job. No one knows the players better."

Langer, controversially overlooked as a wild card for Brookline in favour of Scotland's Andrew Coltart said: "It's not that we're standing up for Nick Faldo. It is merely a question of what we believe to be right."

Against that background, it could be that Torrance's position would become untenable if James were forced to resign. "It would place me in a difficult position," admitted the Scot. "I don't know at this stage what I would do."