Torrance full of sympathy for Ryder Cup fall guy Faldo

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 22:15

IF NICK Faldo's performance as Ryder Cup captain was an example of how-not-to do-it in Kentucky last weekend then Sam Torrance's display at the Belfry in 2002 will always be remembered as being lifted straight from the handbook. From the opening ceremony to the celebrations – when Torrance managed to look stately despite having had the contents of a few magnums of champagne poured over his head – the Scot proved to be in his element.

He is, then, also in the perfect position to judge those who attempt to follow in his footsteps, and his take on Faldo's display differs from that of most others, including Colin Montgomerie.

While his fellow Scot issued a withering critique on Faldo earlier this week Torrance has used those eyes that memorably bulged when presented with the Ryder Cup trophy in 2002 to cast a more sympathetic look back across the events which unfolded at Valhalla last weekend.

His positive review of Faldo's tenure is invested with extra significance given his past differences with the Englishman, who surprised no-one by failing to ask previous Ryder Cup captains for advice. "Me and Faldo are not of the same ilk – there is no point in him calling me," said Torrance.

The Scot was not quite so involved in Louisville as at the Belfry, but was offered a view that was next best to fly-on-the-wall from the BBC television studio on site. The Scot with, in his words, "a face for radio and a voice for TV" was hired to give his expert opinion, and it is one which provides Faldo with a measure of relief after days of post-Kentucky flak.

Only Faldo's public speaking was given the thumbs-down from Torrance, whose own performance on the podium six years ago managed to strike the right balance between dignified and humorous.

Faldo, by contrast, prompted a widespread urge to curl toes as he made a series of references to himself, and then introduced his players with such unwise cracks as one involving potatoes and Ireland.

The Scot admitted Faldo might have to improve in the speech-making department, but otherwise his approach was almost flawless.

Indeed, the one thing Torrance might have done differently in the run-up – picking the in-form Darren Clarke as a wild card – would not necessarily have been the right thing to do, given the performance from Ian Poulter, the man controversially chosen instead by Faldo and who went on to be Europe's top points scorer.

"His job is on the golf course and he did a fine job there," said Torrance. "Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It's easy to criticise when things have gone wrong, but who's to say he got them wrong? How about the things he got right? What about Ian Poulter? I was one of the strongest supporters for Darren Clarke to be in the team, and Ian Poulter got four out of five points – should have been five. He was fantastic. You can't criticise that."

"I think Faldo did a great job," continued Torrance. "He might have to work on his speech- making. I thought that wasn't very good, but on the golf course I don't think he put a foot wrong. He dropped (Lee] Westwood and (Sergio] Garcia and everyone thought that was an error, but they won that session. You can't argue with it."

One tactic many found fault in was Faldo's decision to place his best players at the back of the pack for the singles. Torrance did the opposite in 2002, and reaped a rich reward.

"There were reasons why I top-loaded," he said. "In Faldo's situation, he is two points behind. (For Europe to win] it was always going to come down to the last three, and I think he was right to put a bit of strength there."

Torrance was in the media camp in Valhalla and felt an antipathy towards Faldo from the start, but this was no surprise. The Englishman is a different beast to Torrance, whose genial demeanour and bar-room bonhomie – although he is presently abstaining from alcohol – has always made him a more appealing character than the often difficult Faldo.

"Nick's never had a relationship with the press, whether that be his own doing, the press's doing, or whoever's doing," said Torrance. They were waiting for him. A couple of comments were made when he walked past the press centre. You could hear the knives being sharpened. They were waiting for him, they were out to get him. And they had no cause to get him. I have sympathy for him. I know how tough a job it is."

It is made tougher when the big guns do not perform, and Torrance lamented the fact Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia were not at their best.

The former is coached by his father Bob, who the Irishman often refers to as "like a father" to him. There is even a room in Torrance's mother and father's house that is known as Padraig's. Torrance issued a trademark gravelly laugh. "I'm jealous," he said, with reference, also, to Harrington's three major titles.

"Harrington's taught by my father, I am taught by my father. Harrington has three majors, and I have nought majors. Harringon pays my father, I don't. Is there something there? Is there something he just tells the paying clients?"

"He's in his prime," continued Torrance, more seriously. "These are the years. I had my best year at 43. He has ten years of top class golf to come."

Torrance, now 55, is confident he can still be competitive on the seniors circuit, and lines-up alongside Ryder Cup players Constantino Rocca, Eamon Darcy, Gordon Brand Junior and defending champion Jose Romero at the Scottish Seniors Open, which starts today at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club. A niggling hand injury has hampered him over the last two years, but the Scot remains optimistic.

"This year has been so disappointing," he said. "I haven't won. And to not win on the seniors tour is disappointing to say the least. I finished one shot behind at the PGA and that's the nearest I have come to playing well. I haven't had a drink for six months. That might be the reason."

"I have worked hard," he continued. "It's just not happened. I can still turn the year around. I could win this week and win next week (at the Alfred Dunhill Links championship, where he will partner son Daniel] and win the tour championship. There is hope."