Ben Crenshaw has finally revealed how upset he was by some of Mark James's accusations following the last Ryder Cup match. Crenshaw, captain of the American team which won back the trophy after premature celebrations on the 17th green, has just finished writing his autobiography.

And its publication will ensure that the row over the behaviour of both sides in Boston will last through to September's clash at The Belfry.

The double Masters champion, who yesterday was partnering Tiger Woods in the first round of the Players Championship in Florida, claims Europe used slow play tactics "to the fullest extent".

This allegation was emphatically denied yesterday by Padraig Harrington. "I will swear to that on the bible," he said. "Either way, it would be a daft instruction. It would throw a player totally out of his rhythm if he were to change his pace of play."

Not noted as a sprinter, Harrington added with a grin: "It wouldn't arise with me anyway, would it?"

Crenshaw also criticises James for comments about Tom Lehman in his own controversial book "Into the Bearpit".

In a chapter entitled "One apology is enough" Crenshaw recalls that he was stunned by what James had to say in a telephone call to him a week after the match.

According to the Texan, James made three claims. The first was that Payne Stewart was seen or overheard giving advice to another player (against golf's rules); the second was that during his match with Woods, Andrew Coltart was sent in the wrong direction to look for his ball and that two marshals high-fived each other when he had to deem it lost; and the third was that the American side intentionally incited the crowd.

"His assertions were . . . well, not true," says Crenshaw. "The golf we played energised the crowd, not the other way around.

The biggest controversy, of course, centred on the American team's reaction to Justin Leonard's long putt on the 17th against Jose Maria Olazabal.

Crenshaw does admit that "we lost it" and adds: "We were just so caught up in the moment, there was so much emotion, that it out-weighed pragmatism at that point, which is perfectly understandable.

"I said we were very sorry and we apologised. I just wish our sincerest apology had been good enough."