Jean van de Velde has spoken
out against the decision by European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance to appoint
Mark James as one of his two vice-captains for the match against the United States
at The Belfry, England, next year.
"Don't expect me to be
pleased at Mark James being involved in the next Ryder Cup," he said. "I would
have hoped the captain would have gone for someone new."
Van de Velde has made his
feelings clear many times, often angrily, about James deciding not to give him,
Andrew Coltart or Jarmo Sandelin a game before the singles last year in Brookline.
Only this week the 33-year-old
Frenchman said pointedly: "I'm looking forward to playing the Ryder Cup for the
first time next year!"
That was a reference to
the fact that last year he played just 13 holes in the biennial event, going
down 6 and 5 to Davis Love III at Brookline as he was thrown in against a player
unbeaten in his three pairs matches.
