SAM TORRANCE HAS labelled Nick Faldo’s criticism of Sergio Garcia during the Ryder Cup as “pathetic”.
Faldo created a stir by suggesting that Spaniard Garcia was “fairly useless” during the 2008 edition of the biennial tournament, in which Faldo was captain of Europe in a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 defeat to United States.
The likes of Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter, members of Europe’s winning team at Gleneagles in September, were openly critical of Faldo’s comments, although Garcia himself stated he was willing to “forgive and forget”.
However, Torrance — one of Paul McGinley’s vice-captains — has hit out at Faldo stating the criticism was completely unwarranted.
“To say that right in the middle of the Ryder Cup, what was he thinking about?”, Torrance said in an interview with Bunkered magazine. “The reaction in the team room was magnificent. The guys rallied round Garcia like he was an injured, well, goose.
“Really, it was pathetic from Faldo. I’ve no idea where he was coming from with that stuff. You can even quote me on that, I don’t care.
“It was beyond belief that one of our greatest-ever players would come out with a comment like that.
“Garcia’s not a team player? Have a look in the mirror, pal. Garcia’s one of the best team players we have. He’s an incredible kid, with the heart of a lion and he’s incredible in the team room.
“Really, I’ve just no idea where those comments came from.”
