Pavin defends 1991 Ryder Cup show of 'patriotism' at Kiawah Island

Published on Wednesday 3 June 2009 22:37

US RYDER Cup captain Corey Pavin has spoken about his passion for the biennial match against Europe and defended his actions in the 1991 contest at Kiawah Island – the tempestuous War on the Shore – when he wore a camouflage cap bearing a Desert Storm inscription.

Many observers from this side of the Atlantic thought it was a brazen attempt on Pavin's part to fuel jingoism among the home galleries. The American, though, rejects that interpretation and says it was simply a gesture of patriotism.

Speaking at Celtic Manor, site of next year's Ryder Cup match as well as the Wales Open, Pavin explained: "That was misconstrued, maybe, over here. It was just a show of support for the troops in Iraq. I think a lot of people took it the wrong way. I was showing my patriotism to the guys out there putting their lives on the line for our freedom and if that's wrong then so be it, but I don't think that was wrong.

"I think I bring a passion to the Ryder Cup, a competitiveness and a love for the Ryder Cup. I hope that I can instil that in players that need to have it instilled, but I feel like our players are guys that want to win."

Montgomerie has already gone on record to say no antagonism will be shown to Pavin by the European galleries. "Those days are gone," insisted the Scot. "There will be no antagonism towards any American visitor to Wales next year. They'll all be made welcome."

Montgomerie and Pavin met three times as players in the Ryder Cup. In 1991, the old firm of Monty and Bernhard Langer defeated Pavin and Steve Pate 2 and 1 at Kiawah Island. In 1993 at the Belfry, Monty and Faldo overcame Pavin and Lanny Wadkins by 3 and 2. And two years later at Oak Hill, Monty and Nick Faldo lost by one hole to Pavin and Tom Lehman.

Perhaps because he already has an edge on his American counterpart, Montgomerie, 46, was thought to be reluctant to be paired with Pavin over the TwentyTen course today and tomorrow. While Pavin, 49, was in reasonable form last week – he was 18th at the Colonial where he signed off with 65 – the Scot has struggled lately to finish off tournaments. Monty has not finished higher than 25th in his past eight events and is down to 187th in the world rankings. Pavin is 290th.

"I'm doing my best to balance (the demands of captaincy] with my playing ambitions," Montgomerie remarked. "I still want to win and there's no reason why I can't beat my team-mates. Unfortunately, it's not as good as it should be technically. It's almost there, but I'm making too many so-called amateur errors. That didn't happen before and I've got to get rid of it. I'm making five or six birdies a round. It's the five or six bogeys which have got to go. And I need to finish off better than I have been doing."

Having revealed earlier this week at Gleneagles he plans to ask all the contenders for his team who don't play at Celtic Manor to make the effort in a year's time, Montgomerie will have plenty of phone calls to make in 2010. Only Miguel Angel Jimenez of Nick Faldo's side at Valhalla, for example, is in today's draw. Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen and Robert Karlsson all originally expected to play before withdrawing.

Pavin would also like some of his potential team members to compete in next year's tournament. However, with the date for the Wales Open expected to fall two weeks before the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach in California, the American captain knows there's little prospect of his men interrupting their preparations for the season's second major. It seems more likely the US captain will urge his players to visit Celtic Manor either before or after they compete in the Open.

Both captains still have announcements to make about their backroom teams. Pavin is expected to name four vice- captains next year while Montgomerie is tipped to name Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn as his assistants if they do not qualify to play against the Americans.

At an earlier press conference to review the arrangements for the next Ryder Cup match, rumours circulating in Wales that the economic downturn might force the 2010 staging to be relocated to an alternative venue were quashed by Sir Terry Matthews, the owner of Celtic Manor.

"I'm lucky enough to have been in business now for about 40 years and I typically don't believe the press sometimes and what they write," said Matthews. "God knows who speculates about what. It doesn't have much effect on me. Frankly, you could hit me with a nuke and it still would not have much effect.

"As far as I can tell this Ryder Cup will be the best ever. I'm confident, things are going well and I'm feeling good about it."