Rookies made to feel part of Ryder Cup team

STRAFFAN (Reuters) – U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman set
about making his four rookies feel part of the side when they
arrived at The K Club for a two-day practice session on Monday.

Tiger Woods and the rest of the side flew into Dublin from
Cleveland, Ohio, and teed off in threeballs with one rookie in
each group.

Lehman has stressed that his experienced players must do
their utmost to help rookies Vaughn Taylor, Brett Wetterich,
J.J. Henry and Zach Johnson.

“It’s now really a simple case of the eight guys who have
been there before, who have been parts of Ryder Cup teams and
Presidents Cup teams embracing the four guys who haven’t and
making them feel comfortable,” Lehman told reporters at the
Bridgestone Invitational in Akron last week.

Wetterich was first off the tee alongside Chad Campbell and
David Toms, with Taylor setting off with Chris Di Marco and
Masters champion Phil Mickelson in the second group.

All the players used golf carts on a rainy Irish morning
with Johnson teaming up with captain’s picks Stewart Cink and
Scott Verplank.

World number one Woods was last off the tee with Henry and
Jim Furyk.

The Ryder Cup takes place at the K Club from September
22-24.