Europe's Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance owned up to a procedural gaff today that left his US counterpart Curis Strange bemused and scurrying for his rulebook.
Asked if his decision as home captain to play off the back tees at the short par-four 10th on Friday would be the case for Saturday and Sunday also, Torrance replied that could depend on whether or not his players requested it.
That left open the door for the front tee 20 yards forward to be used which completly changes the way the hole is played. Strange, who had been assured by chief referee John Paramor that the back tees would be used on all three days, has had his players practicing accordingly.
When told of Torrance's statement he said "something is not right here." Shortly after, however, a chastened Torrance came back into the press room to admit he had blundered.
"I don't know why I said that. It just came out," he said. Torrance said there was no question of player-power affecting his choice of tees.
"I am the captain and it will be off the back tees on all three days." The Scot said he apologised to Strange for the mistake and that there had been no hard feelings.
AFP