U.S. players work on short game, which riles Irish fans

STRAFFAN, Ireland -- There are times when the Americans just can't win, such as the Ryder Cup.

And sometimes, they don't even have to wait for the matches to get under way.

The weather turned so nasty Wednesday morning, with 40 mph gusts that toppled a few trees and brought the rain sideways, that The K Club was closed to the public for nearly three hours. U.S. captain Tom Lehman sent his players back to bed, and only later did both teams believe it best to play for thousands of spectators who eventually got onto the course.

But it was no time to take golf seriously, not with the wind blowing the ball all over the place.

Lehman fulfilled a prediction he made in February by creating what was believed to be the first "twelvesome" game in Ryder Cup history, his entire team playing nine holes on a gray, miserable afternoon.

But there was a twist.

They worked on their short game, starting each hole from about 120 yards away. The gallery wasn't aware of this, so when Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and the rest of the Americans walked from the fourth green, past the fifth tee and kept marching down the middle of the fairway, the Ryder Cup got its first dose of booing.

"You don't give a damn about Ireland's public," shouted one man behind the tee, and hundreds of others nodded.

Lehman later asked for a mulligan. He realized his squad should have performed at least on the first tee, where the grandstands were packed with people. And when he caught up with his team on the seventh hole, he told them to tee off on No. 9, the only drives they hit all day.

"We walk down the first hole to about 120 yards short of the green and started from there, and kind of left everybody sitting in the stands by the first tee waiting," Lehman said. "That was a mistake. We should have hit a tee shot at least on the first hole. To all of those fans left waiting, I apologize. That was my mistake."

Lehman's apology was sincere, but he had no regrets about what unfolded on The K Club.

The 12 Americans played against each other in a friendly alternate-shot match.

Each player put $100 into the pot on each hole, which started within about pitching wedge range except on the par 3s. In case of a tie, a chip-off on each hole to determine the winner.

Scott Verplank and David Toms were formidable. Verplank won a chip-off on the third by pitching from a knoll beyond the green. On the par-5 fourth, the players started from 240 yards away. Woods, Jim Furyk and Brett Wetterich were the only players to reach in two. Toms chipped in for eagle and the other guys missed their putts.