An omen, perhaps? In yesterday morning's pro-am, Ian Woosnam - "I need all the help I can get these days to win things," he quipped (with a hint of prophecy?) in thanking his amateur team-mates at the prize presentation - won out. Tom Lehman didn't, finishing out of the prizes. It didn't seem to worry him unduly, however.
Not long afterwards, the United States Ryder Cup captain was demonstrating a capacity to play psychological warfare. Or was he really serious in putting the "underdogs" tag on his team?
"I'd say we're underdogs, without question," contended Lehman. "I think we're underdogs in the fact that we've gotten thumped quite regularly over the last decade but, even looking at the world rankings today, I think there's more of the European players who are ranked in the top-25 than our American players."
If the truth be told, and we're not into nitpicking, there are more Americans (eight) in the world's top-25 than Europeans (seven). But it's a close-run thing, and we get his point.
Yesterday, some seven weeks before his team is finalised after the US PGA championship at Medinah and he is obliged to name his two captain's picks, Lehman was fully aware it would do no harm at all to heap some praise (and pressure?) on to the Europeans.
"I see the European team as being very strong, and I see the American team as being in transition but yet also very strong. There's a number of players who I have an incredible amount of faith in, a lot of confidence in . . . I'm not afraid of taking a bunch of inexperienced guys to play. I really am not.
"I have a great amount of confidence in their abilities and, more than anything else, these young guys are really hungry. They are really motivated to be part of this team and you can't replace the attitude of guys who have a bit of a competitive chip on their shoulders.
"It's a great way to play golf, with something to prove. So, being the underdog is no bad place for us to be."
Lehman was referring to the positions currently occupied in his team by Brett Wetterich, Vaughn Taylor, Lucas Glover, JJ Henry and Zach Johnson. None of them have previously played in the most pressurised event in golf, although Lehman did point out there are a number of big-money events, including the British Open and the US PGA, coming up that could yet alter his team standings.
Although Lehman had suggested to many of his potential team members it might be a good idea to include the European Open on their itinerary, as he has done, none of them took up the proposal.
"I think because this tournament is not being held on the other course this year had a huge impact on the fact that nobody decided to come and play," said Lehman.
The flip side is that five players contending for places on the US Ryder Cup team have decided to pay a visit next week, ahead of preparing for the British Open at Hoylake. David Toms, Jim Furyk, Davis Love, Chad Campbell and Tim Herron have all confirmed their intentions to play the Palmer Course next week, while others have indicated a desire to pay an advance visit in August.
"I feel very good about the commitment our players are showing to come and see this course," said Lehman.
For now, though, Lehman will attempt to put the Ryder Cup on the back burner and contend in the European Open. It's not just about the Ryder Cup, you know.
