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| Torrance speaks of high spirits |
Sam Torrance got one of the shocks of his life while he was lying in the bath prior to the players' welcome dinner at The De Vere Belfry.
The European Captain was relaxing at the end of a hectic first practice session when he was alarmed to get a frantic phone call from Ryder Cup rookie, Pierre Fulke.
"I was in the bath when the phone went," said Torrance. " It's Pierre Fulke. He said 'Sam I've got a huge problem, the biggest problem of the week, I have to come and see you.'
" 'Okay,' I said. So I wrap a towel around myself, and I go to the door and his face is ashen. I thought to myself, 'what on earth has happened. And he said, 'Sam, I can't do my tie.' Honestly, I could have killed him."
Torrance recited this tale during his third media interview in order to illustrate the high spirits in his camp on the eve of The 34th Ryder Cup Matches. He confirmed that his team was all set and raring to get started.
"They're having a ball out there," said Torrance as his players completed their second official practice session. "They're laughing, they're joking, they're gambling. The mood in the camp is just great. Even the rookies, like Pierre, are having a whale of the time and that's the way it should be."
Torrance appeared so relaxed at his press conference that it was difficult to remember that he was still wrestling with his pairings for the first fourball matches on Friday.
He admitted that he had come to The De Vere Belfry with four pairings firmly in his mind but that he had seen one or two things in practice that had made him have second thoughts.
"There's a couple of things that have changed this week already," said Torrance. "But that's just the way it is. You have to shuffle and rearrange and make things right. That's the job of the captain. But please don't ask me what they are."
There is evidence to suggest that Torrance might start with a combination of form and experience. Colin Montgomerie would seem to have been paired with Lee Westwood for both practice rounds and the same can be said for Sergio Garcia and Bernhard Langer, Thomas Björn and Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington and Niclas Fasth.
The European Captain was playing his cards close to his chest in his conference but he did take time out to praise two of his rookies, Philip Price and the aforementioned Fulke.
"Yesterday, Fulke and Price hammered the guys they were playing. And at the Benson & Hedges, when we had a little competition, Fulke and Price won it, shot 11 under par.
"The guys that have been struggling have really come through," he added. "I would certainly not suggest backing the Americans, anyway. I will tell you that."
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