Thursday, Oct. 14
Van de Velde blames Ryder Cup loss on James
Associated Press
LONDON -- European Ryder Cup player Jean Van de Velde has blamed European captain Mark James for last weekend's stunning loss to the United States.
Instead of lashing out at the behavior of the American team and their fans, Van de Velde said it was "morally wrong" that three players were left on the sidelines by James until the singles competition on the final day.
Jean Van de Velde lost his only Ryder Cup match 6 and 5 to Davis Love III.
"You don't make good use of nine players and put three in the bin," Van de Velde said in Saturday's The Daily Telegraph.
"Maybe I'm not the best player in the world, but I did finish ninth on the Ryder Cup points list, and if you qualify you should play," added Van de Velde, who blew a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole of this year's British Open.
Van de Velde said James did not speak to him after the match.
"I would expect him to come to me in the near future and talk about it," Van de Velde said.
Van de Velde, who spoke openly after he lost the British Open, said Europe lost the Ryder Cup because its top players were exhausted.
"Everyone has been focusing on the Americans' bad behavior,"
he said. "But to me the result had nothing to do with that. We
lost because we asked too much of most of the guys and because we
didn't put enough trust in three."
In addition to Van de Velde, Jarmo Sandelin and Andrew Coltart
also sat out until the final day.
Van de Velde was beaten easily, 6 and 5, by Davis Love III in
Sunday's singles. Sandelin and Coltart also lost their matches.
The Frenchman, a member of the European Tour Players' committee,
said he would suggest that European players in future Ryder Cups
play every day.
"I feel I haven't really taken part in the match. It has made
me feel so bad."
