Proud DiMarco still hurts

Picture the final green at Oakland Hills, bathed in blue and gold flags, as the victorious European Ryder Cup players joined their delirious supporters in endless chants of: Ole, ole, ole, ole.

One non-European who has no trouble recalling that day in 2004 is Chris DiMarco.

As the rest of his team-mates left the scene after doing their sportsmanlike duty, the passionate New Yorker stayed.

And stayed. "I wanted to burn that image in my mind's eye of the Europeans celebrating on American soil," he said. "Don't get me wrong. The team and their fans were within their rights to enjoy such a great victory.

"But imagine what that was like for a proud American?

"I forced myself to stay because I wanted to remember it all when the Ryder Cup came around again."

Look at DiMarco's playing record and you would be tempted to write off his remarks and wonder what on earth he could do about it.

The sum of his U.S. Tour victories since he turned pro in 1994 is three, the same as Tiger Woods managed during the month of August alone.

Place him next to Phil Mickelson, as captain Tom Lehman will do this week, and the difference in ball striking is almost embarrassing.

But passion and desire are everything here and DiMarco will be Lehman's fiery leader on the course, the man pumping his fist when birdie putts fall.

DiMarco is actually what the Ryder Cup is all about. Don't we love to see Sergio Garcia doing the same thing? It would be hypocritical to think DiMarco out of order.

At last year's President's Cup, however, he caused plenty of offence in Europe when he talked about the 'hatred' of the Ryder Cup.

DiMarco did not mean it the way it appeared and made a point of explaining himself personally to members of the European team.

He said: "I was referring to the fact that some fans go to the Ryder Cup and think it a football game, hating the opposition. I know there is only respect between the two teams."

At that President's Cup, DiMarco formed a marvellous partnership with Mickelson, giving up just a half-point in four matches. Why on earth does he not win more?

He said: "Something about playing for America brings out the best in me. I think about the Ryder Cup all the time. I'll be playing in one of those tour events where the test is just a case of how far you can smash it and then smash it again and I'll start thinking about the Ryder Cup. I'm thinking about it now when I'm talking to you."