English Golfers: We 'properly Hate' Americans

English golfers Paul Casey and Luke Donald have distracted attention from tomorrow's World Cup tee-off in Seville by castigating "insular" Americans.

Casey used a press conference this morning to add fuel to a controversy he had originally ignited after the Ryder Cup, when he described the European team's approach to the tournament in the following terms: "We properly hate them - we wanted to beat them as badly as possible."

He defended that remark today and was backed up by fellow Englishman Luke Donald.

"I stand by my words," said the 27 year-old, "I certainly don't hate Americans, but they do have a tendency to sort of wind people up. When they are chanting 'USA' and there's lots of them it just makes you want to beat them even more."

"That's the point I was trying to get across. They probably failed to realise it really sort of riles us and the rest of the world. "

Casey, whose girlfriend is American and who has an American tour card, then brought Donald into the row by joking, "actually, I don't hate Americans at all - it's Luke."

The Chicago-based Donald, sitting next to him, replied: "They won't let me back into the country."

Donald, another with an American girlfriend, then expounded his own views on Americans, commenting "I think people who are not Americans can get upset with Americans quite easily. They do seem to be very insular and make rash comments that are really quite upsetting sometimes."

He referred to the example of American tour player Ryan Palmer, who said days after the Ryder Cup result that the Nationwide Tour - the second division in America - was the second strongest tour in the world.

"Those kind of comments force people like Paul to say what he says, I would have thought. I guess it's a reaction to the American way of thinking that they have the best country in the world and don't really need to leave their country. They have everything.

"I think it's a small percentage of Americans have passports," he continued, "Most haven't left the country. Because of that they are in some ways a little bit naive. I've heard comments where they just think America is the be-all and end-all.

"I think a lot of Americans could gain a lot by exploring the world a little bit more."

Casey agrees, and believes that the American attitude to the World Cup, where they will be represents by Scott Verplank and Bob Tway, reflects this mentality. "I'm sure they will do very well, but it's definitely not their best team on paper and I think it just shows when an event outside of America there's a lot of excuses from the good players that they don't want to play."

Casey also said he was surprised that the US have chosen Tom Lehman, who was involved in the Brookline controversy five years ago, as their captain for the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland.

"I don't think his appointment will be universally accepted on this side of the Atlantic," he said, "I don't think people really want to see him as captain. We've got a very, very good rivalry since 99 and I think a lot of people are just afraid that it might bring up a Brookline-type situation at the K Club."

Other golfers did not share this view, with Irish player Paul McGinley saying, "I'm not surprised by Lehman being made captain. I have no idea what went on at Brookline, but I've always found him to be a perfect gentleman."

McGinley also criticised Casey's other comments. "Hate is a bad word to use - a terrible thing in sport," he said, "I don't want to stir up any animosity."

The other member of the Irish team, Padraig Harrington, who was in the European team at Brrokline, also spoke in favour of Lehman.

"They got over-excited, but that's great and you've got to imagine the pressure they were under," he said, "Every time I've dealt with Tom Lehman he's been excellent - I think he's a good choice and will do a good job."