Lehman wants U.S. to be the lead dog

By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:42 PM PST ∞

LA JOLLA ---- Del Mar's Tom Lehman is all about being first. Except when it comes to a certain afternoon at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., as a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

"Well, he was first on the (17th) green, wasn't he?" said Colin Montgomerie, a player on the European squad.

Absolutely not, counters Lehman, who is playing in this week's Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

After recently being named the Ryder Cup captain for 2006, Lehman knows he's in line for some more European shots.

But he proved his innocence by reviewing the tape.

The controversy stems from what the U.S. team did in 1999. Justin Leonard drained a 45-foot birdie putt, which ultimately iced America's first Ryder Cup title in six years. But when the ball dropped on the 17th, the party started, with caddies, players and players' wives celebrating on a green that was awaiting Jose Maria Olazabal's potential tying putt.

"Why do you think me being the captain is raising some eyebrows in Europe?" Lehman said, repeating a question he has heard. "The players said it's obvious because (I) was the first guy on the green at the 17th hole, which I knew was not true. And I've been saying it for five years. Get the tape out."

It doesn't lie ---- Lehman is as accurate as one of his precision iron shots.

The outburst lasted 42 seconds, and the order of people converging on Leonard reads: the late Bruce Edwards (a caddy), another caddy, followed by Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and Lehman.

"I was the fifth guy there and I never set foot on the green," Lehman said. "We did slow-down play (on the tape)."

The criticism, though, hasn't slowed. Mention Lehman's name in European circles, and people crinkle their noses.

Lehman, 45, is cognizant of the perception, regardless of the reality. But he's not eager to relive it, and said he won't when he leads the 12-player U.S. contingent in 2006 to the Kildare Golf and Country Club in Ireland.

"You know what, it was an issue five years ago and we dealt with it five years ago; I am done with it," said Lehman, who was 3-0 in singles on three Ryder Cup teams. "To me, I'm not going to discuss it. If they want to discuss it, that's fine. But I am not going to discuss it."

Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion and PGA Player of the Year that season, will talk about turning the U.S. tide. Its play has been dreadful in recent Ryder Cups, as the Americans have lost two in a row and four of the past five.

"We've come to look at making the Ryder Cup team as the achievement as opposed to being the winning team," Lehman said. "And I think the Europeans believe, 'Who cares if you made the team if you lose?'

"I feel pretty strongly our goals as individuals don't necessarily include the fact the team wins. We make the team, we're happy. I'm not saying you like losing; don't get me wrong there. But it's not the burning desire to go to Ireland and just kick some booty and take that cup home.

"That is what I want to bring: 'Hey fellas, you know what? You need to think about winning. Winning is the reason why we are playing. The goal is not to make the team ---- the goal is to win.' "

That means being first. Something Lehman has been accused of before in Ryder Cup competition.

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.