Azinger stirs up a Ryder Cup storm over Faldo

NICK Faldo, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, and Paul Azinger, his American counterpart, spent 20 minutes talking on the telephone yesterday after the USA captain made incendiary comments in a newspaper article about the six-time major winner.

When the conversation was over, Faldo accepted Azinger's explanation that his remarks had been taken out of context. As the damage limitation process over Azinger's comments began in earnest, the American himself also attempted to pour cold water on a story in which he described Faldo as a "p**** and everyone hates you".

The gist of the article was that the Englishman had sought to sweeten his image since becoming a television commentator but that Faldo's peers didn't buy the transformation from his self-obsessed playing days.

As a player, Faldo preferred to remain aloof and build a sense of mystique around his performances. Many of his contemporaries, though, were appalled by what they interpreted as rude and conceited behaviour.

"The bottom line is that the players from his generation and mine don't really want to have anything to do with him," Azinger told the Mail on Sunday. "He did what he did as a player and there are relational consequences."

Once the controversy was picked up by the wire services here in America and the flak started to fly, Azinger attempted to use wit yesterday to laugh off the remarks. In a rebuttal which was remarkable not for disputing the perspicacity of the comments but the wisdom of making them in public, Azinger was largely unrepentant in a conversation with Sports Illustrated.

Azinger told the magazine he'd left a humorous message on Faldo's mobile. "I said, 'Nick, this is Zinger'," said Azinger. "I said, 'Well, it's already started. I don't know if you've seen it, but one of those papers said I called you a p**** and that everyone from your generation hates you. Even though you pretty much are and everyone pretty much does, I have more diplomacy than to say that.' He called back and said, 'Zinger, I read this whole article and, you don't like Monty more than me, do you?'"

The reference to Colin Montgomerie arose after Azinger claimed the Scot had no chance of receiving a captain's pick from the Englishman. "He and Faldo don't seem to get along and there's no way Faldo will award him one of his wildcards," said Azinger.

On the other hand, the American is desperate for the Scot to be part of the European team at Valhalla in September because he wants Europe's talisman in the biennial match to taste the bitter supper of defeat. "We're all scared of him (Monty], when he plays in the Ryder Cup," said Azinger. "What he's done is amazing. Monty's become famous for it in the US and he's never even won a major. Americans don't particularly like him, but there's nothing wrong with being the villain.

"He probably won't win a major now, but I still want him in the European team because I want to show him what the taste of defeat is like. I've told him this. I also implored him to give me some stuff I shouldn't know about Faldo. I was due to play with Monty at Bay Hill until I pulled out. But I would have had five hours alone with him and I would have said 'You've got to give me some stuff'."

The article also depicts Azinger's perception of Faldo as man who believes he's about to play in the next match in Kentucky rather than lead Europe. When the two men walked round Valhalla together, Azinger observed: "I watched him making notes from start to finish. He reckons he's going to play in the Ryder Cup. Well, he's not, and neither am I. Telling the players what to do will just p*** them off."By yesterday, Azinger was spinning those comments in a more positive light. He didn't claim he'd been misquoted but that the spirit of his remarks were twisted into something ugly. "I talked about how Nick redefined his whole career, and the writer turned that into an ugly thing.

"As for Faldo walking around like he's competing in the event, Nick is just different. What I said was, he's so much more thorough than I am. He's going to lead the way differently."

A feisty character during his own Ryder Cup playing days, Azinger has never hesitated to call a spade a bloody shovel. Europe have won the last three matches by wide margins and Azinger's appointment was interpreted by many observers as an attempt to restore passion to the American cause.

The potential, however, for igniting trouble in golf's most volatile showdown is vast. And reprising the ugly mood which surrounded the contests at Kiawah and Brookline is not in anyone's interests.

"Nick and I have a lot of the same personality in some respects,"Azinger added. "He and I are both on the same page. We want this to be fun and enjoyable. We don't want it to turn ugly. We've discussed that we want it to remain friendly."

Calling your opposite number a "p****", even in jest, is an interesting variation on the concept of friendly transatlantic relations. If Azinger was hoping to drive a wedge between Faldo and his players, the ploy surely won't work.

"If Monty plays well and Nick has a chance to pick him he will," argued European Tour veteran Barry Lane. "Nick is driven, and it won't be about personality – he will pick the best players for the team. I think Azinger is really stirring it up."

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was another to speak up for Faldo, asserting European players held him in nothing other than a high regard. "Nick kept himself to himself. He's always been like that. He was a very focused individual when he played," said Clarke. "But it won't affect how people play for him. He's a six-time major champion – the best player we've ever had. Whether people like him or loathe him – and it's obvious you have people in both camps – you cannot disrespect at any stage what he has done in the game. His record speaks for itself. He is a legend in the game of golf."

SHOOTING FROM THE LIP

PAUL Azinger is no stranger to controversy, and is one of the most outspoken players to feature in the Ryder Cup over the past 20 years.

1989: At the Ryder Cup match at the Belfry, Azinger played Seve Ballesteros in the singles. At one stage the Spaniard wanted to change his ball before putting, which he claimed was damaged, but Azinger demanded to see evidence and then blocked the change by objecting.

1991: After the United States regained the Ryder Cup, in a match that becamee known as the 'War on the Shore', Azinger declared: "American pride is back. We went over and thumped the Iraqis and rallied to beat the Europeans. I am proud to be an American." Seve Ballesteros was moved to say: "The American team had 11 nice guys and Paul Azinger."

1993: As a member of the US Ryder Cup team to travel to England, Azinger was due to meet President Bill Clinton at the White House before departing. But the son of a Vietnam veteran told his friend Payne Stewart that he "didn't want to shake hands with a draft dodger".

1993: Once again, the Ryder Cup stirred the emotions for Azinger, who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After earning a half in his singles match with Nick Faldo, the American later said: "I had cancer and still he couldn't beat me."