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How Team USA can get those 8½ points
8 wins, 1 tie, 3 losses;
7 wins, 3 ties, 2 losses;
6 wins, 5 ties 1 loss
The envelope
(Image credit: Getty Images)
In the first four sessions, only eight players on each team are needed, so if someone is under the weather or injured it need not matter. But in the singles all 12 players play. So what happens if someone is unable to take to the tee? This seem particularly pertinent when some USA players have been reported as being under the weather due to a bug going round the team.
Each captain, when he hands in his singles order also hands in a sealed envelope. In it is the name of the player who will also drop out if one of the opposition side are unable to field all 12 players. If an ill or injured player in unable to take part, he is then paired with the player in the envelope and half a point is awarded to each side.
USA captain in 2002 Curtis Strange described making this pick as “the most uncomfortable thing I ever had to do.” If the envelopes are not needed, then they are destroyed so no-one can know who was named. Captains do not let on whose name they put in the envelope; many seem not to have even discussed it with their vice captains.
Strange says: “You don’t ever want that name to get out. You don’t ever want to destroy someone’s confidence. These guys become family, and it’s like you’re telling one of them you don’t love them as much.”
The envelope has been used three times. In 1981 when Steve Pate was unable to take his place in the singles, due to injury from a road accident, the European envelope was opened and David Gilford was stood down.
In 1993 Sam Torrance was unable to play, so USA had to withdraw someone. Lanny Wadkins had volunteered to captain Tom Watson be the name in the envelope: “I told Tom, since I was a captain’s pick, to stick my name in there. Other people deserve to play.”
Wadkins was due to play Seve Ballesteros, so Torrance’s intended opponent, Jim Gallagher took his place and beat the European talisman 3&2 in a 15-13 win at The Belfry.
The first time the envelope was brought in was 1979. But US captain Billy Casper had got confused as to the purpose of the envelope, and thought he had put the name of the player he most did not want to be stood down in it. So he put Lee Trevino’s name in it.
When it became clear the envelope would be used, as Mark James’ rib injury would prevent him playing,…
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