Ties and tees give Torrance headache

The location of the tee on the famous 10th hole of the Brabazon was becoming the cause célèbre of the 34th Ryder Cup yesterday. But, just as with the build-up to any other of the recent matches, knowing what is serious and what is mere fluff is never easy. The European captain, Sam Torrance, found out the dripping wet way.

Torrance was in his bath, taking the rare chance to relax from the constant reshuffling of his pairings for tomorrow and Saturday, when his phone rang. It was a distressed Pierre Fulke, the Swedish rookie. "I've got a huge problem, the biggest problem of the week. I have to come and see you," Fulke said.

Torrance hauled himself out of the bath, wrapped a towel around his midriff and went to the door. "His face was ashen," Torrance said. "I thought, what could have happened?"

"Sam, I can't do my tie," Fulke said. "I could have killed him," Torrance laughed. "So I did his tie. The camaraderie in the team is fantastic. We've got a great team spirit."

Swedish practical jokes, whatever next? But back to the 10th tee, which, much to the disappointment of the American team, is at the back and will remain there. The hole measures 311 yards and in its time has been one of the most exciting short par-fours in the game.

Seve Ballesteros and Ian Botham were among the first to drive the green – which is protected at the front by a pond – back when old technology made it a truly heroic shot.

The hole made for much tactical discussion, particularly in the fourballs and foursomes, when the Ryder Cup was played at the venue three times between 1985 and 1993. The Belfry has also staged many tour events and the tee has often been moved up to shorten the carry over the water – some 260 yards from the back tee – and encourage players to go for the green.

These days from the forward tee it can take as little as a three-iron to reach the green but the Benson and Hedges International in recent years has seen a succession of players hitting a wedge off the tee and then another to the green.

Torrance decided the back tee should be used but it has not, as Tiger Woods thought, been moved to the right. What has changed from the 1980s is that the trees by the green have grown and now the angle makes the direct shot from the back tee more risky. It is a case of aim between the branches, not round them.

What caused the problem yesterday was when Torrance mentioned he might move the tee forward if his team wanted him to do so. At the same time, Curtis Strange was being told by John Paramor, the chief referee, that the tee would not be moved up at any point.

"My only question is that my team need to prepare," Strange said. "If the tee goes up one day and they haven't practised there, then something is wrong."

Torrance later clarified: "I made a mistake in what I said. I don't know why it came out. I have made the decision and we are going to play off the back tee all week. I was not trying anything, promise. I spoke to Curtis, he punched me and we made up."

* Justin Leonard, whose 45-foot putt on the 17th at Brookline against Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999 was widely credited as winning America the Ryder Cup, will not be repeating the trick this time. The 30-year-old is not at The Belfry, but seeking a third successive title in the Texan Open in San Antonio. Unfortunately for Leonard, the teams were picked last year, before the event was postponed and before he struck his current vein of form. He has had seven top-10 finishes this year.