The making of a major man

TOUGH times. Tom Lehman knows all about them. Long before all this talk of a world tour became fashionable, he was out there. Japan, South Africa. Wherever. Anywhere he could play golf as a professional, earn a few bucks. It was a matter of survival. Even then, though, the dream of making the big time pounded away in his head.

When Lehman arrives here in a coup of days to compete in the £750,000 Smurfit European Open at The K Club, which begins next Thursday, he'll do so with the aura associated with a British Open champion. A major winner. One of the world's top players. The days of scouring the globe for a tournament and mustering the entry fees have been left behind. But he doesn't forget. How could he?

It has been a long, hard road for Lehman to reach the top. "There was a time in Pretoria when I had to borrow the $200 entry fee to play in a tournament," he says. Times were tough. In his first three years on the US PGA Tour, he earned less than $40,000 and for the next six years failed to even make it through the tour school. Tough times, indeed.

"I was frustrated. I was going to the Tour school year after year and missing out. I was 29, 30, 31, then 32, and still broke and living in an apartment. I'd wonder `what will I ever do with my life?' However, I believe those times made me much stronger mentally and, playing golf, I would never give up on a shot," says Lehman,

His gentle voice oscillates down the telephone line from his home in Arizona. He laughs. The memories of those times still act as a spur. "You know, I'm sitting here in my chair and looking at the Open claret jug. It's right here on my dining room table." It is the ultimate confirmation that Tom Lehman has finally arrived, even if he was a long time getting there.

Lehman certainly served his apprenticeship. He was introduced to the game at five years of age when, along with his brother Jim, who now acts as his manager, he would retrieve golf balls for his father, Jim Snr, on the practice range. After attending the University of Minnesota where he fine tuned his game under the gaze of coach Kick Ehrmanntraut, he embarked on life as a professional golfer. That was 1982.

I always only dreamed of winning the US Open. That was the tournament I always wanted. Yet, having won at Lytham, and experienced the reaction and excitement and atmosphere, I realise now I've won the greatest tournament there is," he says.

A major winner at 37 years of age. Of course, he has served his dues and had been knocking at the door in recent years: third to Bernhard Langer in the 1993 US Masters; runner up to Jose Maria Olazabal the following year; third to Corey Pavin in the 1995 US Open, and runner up to Steve Jones in this year's US Open, a mere three weeks before becoming the first American to ever win at Lytham.

His 13 under par total of 271 gave him a two shot winning margin over his compatriot Mark McCumber and South Africa's Ernie Els. At the time, Lehman said: "It was a struggle (in the final round); I didn't play all that well. I had no rhythm. But I stuck it out and I came through. All the hard work along the way to this day makes everything in the past worthwhile."

He always knew he had it in him to win a major. "In some of the tournaments earlier in the season, when I was finishing second or fourth or sixth, just missing out, I got a little frustrated. Each time my caddie said to me `you're saving it up for a big one'. He must have said that to me at least 20 times. He was right."

"The first couple of weeks after winning the British Open were all a bit hectic. In a way, though, the win has made things easier for me because I have learned to be real specific and to prioritise."

A return visit to The K Club, however, was always on his schedule. The arrangement was actually made with Jamie Birkmyre, the European Open tournament director, at the Phoenix Open last January, when a gentleman's hand shake was sufficient to ensure his participation.

"I'm really looking forward to going back there," said Lehman. "I'd a lovely time with Ernie Jones, the head pro, and we even went fly fishing in the evenings which was lovely. Funny, the thing I remember most is the weather. Cold one minute, warm the next. When I passed comment on it, somebody turned around to me and said `what do you mean? Sure this is great weather for Ireland'."

"I like the course, especially the holes along by the river. It is very much an American style course. I know last year the greens weren't quite as good as they would have liked them to be, but it is a really good test of golf."

It has been a rewarding 12 months for Lehman since he played in the European Open last year, capped by the British Open win and, last week, he was part of the United States team in their President's Cup win over the Rest of the World. "It wasn't quite the Ryder Cup, but it was really good for the event, especially the fact that it was so close and then Freddie (Couples) sinking that long putt to win it."

The Ryder Cup has a special appeal for Lehman.

"Last year, when I played in The K Club, the Ryder Cup was on display at the back of the 18th green and I jokingly made to go off with it. However, I am already looking forward to next year's match in Valderrama. The way I see it, the Europeans have something that we want badly.

He approves of the ever increasing global nature of golf. His past doesn't give him much choice in the matter. In the 80s, when he didn't hold a US PGA tour card for a number of years, he trawled Asia and South Africa in search of tournaments. His goals are set somewhat higher now, but he never forgets. "I'm definitely tougher mentally for that experience," he repeatedly insists.

Now, the talk is of a world tour. Sooner, rather than later. "I've talked to Tim Fincham (US Tour commissioner) and I favour his idea of putting some new, bigger tournaments on the rotation. It would make it a more international, worldwide competition and we could end up with a coalition of nine, 10, 11 or 12 tournaments with the best players in the world competing. I'm all in favour of it."

For the moment, however, Lehman will be doing his bit for the international game when he attempts to add the European Open title to the British Open title. Lehman, and his family, will also get the opportunity to renew some friendships struck up on last year's visit and, perhaps, get in some more fly fishing.