It must be the cynic in me which prompts the thought that things might have been different had Mark James made the remarks about Nick Faldo in a newspaper article. In that case, he could have followed the lead of most public figures - notably sportsmen and politicians - and claimed he had been misquoted.

Failing that, he could have said his observations were taken out of context. And as a sure way of removing any lingering doubts, he could have added: "You know these newspaper people . . ."

James knows he is stuck with everything contained in the book Into the Bear Pit, in that while penned by Martin Hardy of the Express, it has been authorised by him. But this hasn't stopped his successor, Sam Torrance, from seeking scapegoats in the media.

While conceding this week that it was wrong of James to bin Faldo's good-luck letter to the European team, the Scot added: "If you read it in the book it looks flippant. If you read the headline it looks horrific." Those damned newspaper people up to their old tricks again.

I just happen to have the relevant copy of the Daily Mail in which the headline read: "I binned Faldo's good-luck letter." If Torrance is looking for horror in newspaper headlines, I'm surprised he couldn't do better than this.

Now let's look at the "flippant" context in which the message was conveyed in the book. "Faldo's good luck letter was typed, and I think had his signature on the bottom. My first inclination was to throw it away, but first I decided to seek the views of a few other people, including some of the players, and everybody's reaction was the same: bin it. I had no hesitation accepting their advice."

Flippant? I have observed James in a flippant mood, as I've no doubt Torrance has. And the above could not be construed as treating a serious matter lightly. Except, of course, if one were determined to highlight the perceived machinations of those appalling newspaper people. Isn't it marvellous fun?