Capt. Lehman to Recruit Winners

Tom Lehman wants Americans who are winning on his Ryder Cup team, even if that means him.

Lehman was introduced Wednesday as the U.S. captain for the 2006 matches in Ireland, charged with ending European dominance that soared to a new level this year when the Americans were dealt their worst loss ever.

“The Ryder Cup to me is the ultimate golf experience,” Lehman said. “Including my British Open victory, my greatest moment in golf was being part of the Ryder Cup team. To be part of this next team, this is a thrill beyond belief.”

Lehman loves the Ryder Cup so much that he wouldn’t rule himself out as a player.

Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain in the Ryder Cup, at East Lake in 1963. Tom Kite came close to making the team in 1997, and some thought he should have made himself a captain’s pick.

Lehman did not rule out removing himself as captain if he won enough to play his way onto the team.

“I’m looking for guys on top of their game, and winning is a big thing,” Lehman said at a news conference in Amelia Island, Fla. “If I was winning, it would be unfair for me not to play. That said, what are the chances? Probably pretty slim.”

Lehman has not won in almost five years. He finished the season with at least a share of the 54-hole lead in his last three tournaments, but wound up in a tie for second, fourth and sixth.

Winning means so much to Lehman that he said if he were to make the team with a number of top-10 finishes but no trophies, he would eliminate himself and pick No. 11 in the standings.

But even that process remains under review.

While the PGA of America selected its captain, President M.G. Orender said officials might revamp the selection process to make sure the United States has its 10 best players. He expected a decision by the end of the year.

Lehman said he called the PGA after Europe won the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, 18 1/2 -9 1/2 , to win the cup for the seventh time in the last 10 matches.

He wanted to let officials know he was interested, and they talked to him after Lehman ended his year at Disney.

Lehman played in the ‘95, ’97 and ’99 matches and was one of the most spirited players. Along with his perfect record in singles, some remember him for leading the charge across the 17th green at Brookline when Justin Leonard holed a 45-foot putt -- even though Jose Maria Olazabal still had a 25-footer to halve the hole.

Lehman later apologized, saying the emotion caught up with him.

“You’ve got to like a guy who jumped all over their line trying to defend the cup for us,” Scott Verplank joked Wednesday.

Lehman does not have the overwhelming credentials of past captains. He has won only five times on the PGA Tour, including the 1996 British Open.