GOLF:HUNTER MAHAN knew it would come. Four questions into the press conference at Valhalla yesterday he was asked whether he regretted remarks made in a recent magazine interview where he used the word "slave" in reference to the demands imposed on the players during the Ryder Cup

The interview, published in the latest edition of Golf, came at a time when he had not qualified for the Ryder Cup but was asked to offer his thoughts on the tournament.

The 26-year-old Californian ventured: "The whole week is extremely long. You've got dinners every night - not little dinners, but huge, massive dinners. I know, as players, that's the last thing we want to do. You're just a slave that week.

"At some point the players might say, 'We're not doing this any more'. Don't be surprised if it happens. It's just not a fun week like it should be. From what I've heard, the Ryder Cup just isn't fun."

It has not quite been a Damascene conversion, but a clear-the-air conversation with US captain Paul Azinger and his initial experiences in Kentucky this week have moderated his views.

"The tone of the article was definitely not the way I intended it to be," he admitted.

"This is a great week. I mean, this is not something I didn't want to participate in or anything like that. I was trying to make the team, and I'm very excited to be here and ready to play golf and ready to experience everything, because there's only been like 172 guys who have played in this. So this is an honour for me to be here and an honour to be a part of it."

Six minutes later and Mahan could have been forgiven for thinking that he is verbally jinxed when it comes to the Ryder Cup following a much more humorous misunderstanding. Responding to the innocent inquiry as to his first Ryder Cup memory, the American responded: "Probably walking in the room and seeing my name on the bag, seeing all the clothes. To see your name on the USA bag and see all the Ryder Cup clothes with the American flag on it - that's just such a cool feeling."

Fair enough, but a split second later his inquisitor politely ventured:

"Sorry, perhaps you didn't understand the question. The first time you read or saw anything to do with the Ryder Cup."

Mahan embraced the clarification with commendable poise.

"I remember seeing Curtis's (Strange) face after he lost, just seeing how down he was. That's the first thing I remember. I don't remember much of that week, but I do remember that, and just the emotion that it brings out in a player. A seasoned guy like Curtis to succumb to the pressure - you know how big this event is."

It's reasonable to assume, given his recent experiences, that the cut and thrust of life on the other side of the gallery ropes, irrespective of pressure and expectation, will seem a mere irritation.