Strange goings on at the 10th

Philip Reid recounts the different attitudes of the American Ryder Cup players to their team captain.

There he was, standing by the 10th tee. And, as the group including Davis Love III approached him, Curtis Strange, the United States captain, moved to them and it was obvious he had something on his mind.

He suggested, politely, that they hit their shots off the newly-positioned back teeing ground - where Europe's captain Sam Torrance wants them to play from in the actual match - but, then, to move towards the front of the tee and go for the green from there.

"Just in case," said Strange, "just in case they change their mind." Love obliged his captain. So too did David Duval, Hal Sutton and Scott Verplank. The wind was blowing into them and accentuated the task of finding the most famous green at The Belfry. Still, Strange felt it wiser that his men should be prepared for a change in attitude from the Europeans, who have the right to have the course set up as they wish.

Then, a strange thing happened. Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger, Scott Hoch and Mark Calcavecchia came to the 10th tee and Strange went through the whole process all over again, suggesting that they hit from the back but also from the front too. This time, none of the quartet bided his suggestion. All hit from the back, and no one did so from the front.

Maybe it is easy to read things that aren't there into such gestures, but the thought struck that perhaps the harmony in the USA camp isn't quite as strong as it is in the European camp. Certainly, it would be hard to see someone ignoring the advice of Torrance.

Afterwards, Strange didn't make an issue of it. "It wasn't the day to do it, it was a bad one. It was just if the wind turned favourable for the tee shot, and it was up, I wanted my guys to have done that. It was only fair," he said.

The tee won't be moved forward, however. It was only after he had requested his players to play off the front that Strange met tournament referee John Paramor and was reassured that the tee position which the players have used during practice will be the same as in the actual match.

Perhaps Strange wishes he had met Paramor before making the request of his players; then, he would have not have had to see a number of them refuse.

Overall, however, Strange sounds assured and confident as his team complete the build-up to the defence of the trophy. Yesterday, he had his team - the pairings were Phil Mickelson and David Toms; Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk; Hal Sutton and Scott Verplank; David Duval and Davis Love; Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger; Scott Hoch and Mark Calcavecchia - play some serious golf. "I wanted straight alternate shot (foursomes), no practice putting, which they cannot do in the match, and no second balls," said Strange.

Indeed, there has generally been a relaxed feel to the American preparations. "When we got here on Monday, I told them, 'guys, you're professionals. I trust you, you prepare like you would for a major' . . . and today they all played 18 holes which was good, it pleased me.

"They're playing because they are having fun." So, they're having fun on the practice; and fun in the games room - where they have video games and table tennis to occupy them. But the time for the really serious business is about to start. The fun is about to end. The time for churning stomachs and weak knees is nigh.