Europe captain Sam Torrance is doing all he can to keep the unsavoury events of the last Ryder Cup where he believes they belong - in the past.

Torrance spoke out yesterday in response to remarks made by American Tom Lehman, who as part of the victorious home team in Brookline two years ago was deemed to be at the centre of the ill-feeling between the two camps.

Lehman, who became known to many as "The Beast of Brookline" after his behaviour there, missed out narrowly on a wild-card place in America's team for this month's Cup renewal at The Belfry.

But that did not stop him cranking up the war of words again, as he reflected on 1999 vice-captain Torrance's observations that his antics did no credit to someone who is supposedly a "man of God".

Lehman said: "Those words were really uncalled for. I would have liked to have replied 'take that and stick it where the sun don't shine'.

"I am telling you I couldn't think of anything sweeter than to go over there, let my clubs do the talking, put the hammer on somebody, win the thing and celebrate on the 18th green right in front of their fans."

That will not happen, because Lehman has been discarded this time by America captain Curtis Strange in favour of Scott Verplank and Paul Azinger.

Scot Torrance responded by putting out a statement yesterday which read: "Curtis and I are doing all we can to prepare our players for a great match at The Belfry.

"We are 24 days away from the matches starting, and I'm positive I speak for Curtis as well as myself when I say that we expect the 34th Ryder Cup to be played with passion and pride in a sporting atmosphere with strong support, true and fair, from the fans in the best tradition of our game.

"We are looking forward, not backwards - and I am not about to be deflected from my task by issues that as far as I'm concerned rest with the past."

Meanwhile, Jesper Parnevik is hoping there is no repeat of the unsavoury crowd behaviour which made the last Ryder Cup more like "playing in the football World Cup".

The Swede, who was handed the last place in Torrance's team on Sunday as he was preparing to play in the Air Canada Championships, believes the American fans went too far in their support of the home side.

The supporters were criticised for their over-exuberance and disparaging remarks directed at European players, particularly Colin Montgomerie, in the United States win at Brookline.

"It tipped over the edge," Parnevik told Swedish newspaper Goteborgs Posten.

"There was so much emotion, it was so charged. It was like playing in the football World Cup. Everyone was almost mad.

"It's fun when the crowd shout and cheer for their team. But when they put a player off on his back-swing and launch personal attacks like they did on Colin Montgomerie, then it has gone too far."

Parnevik joins compatriots Niclas Fasth and Pierre Fulke for the showdown at The Belfry - the first time three Swedes have made the team.

The Florida-based 35-year-old was told on Sunday that he had been given the nod ahead of Jose Maria Olazabal for the second and final wild-card spot.

He said: "I was delighted when Sam rang. But we didn't have time because I was just going out to play in Surrey, Canada on the US Tour.

"I also had a lot of people around me and didn't want to spread the news."

The call inspired Parnevik to a final-round 67 that saw him shoot up the leaderboard, though it was not quite enough to please the perfectionist.

"It was a bit up and down, but at least I'm starting to get my putting in order which is important for the Ryder Cup," he said.

Parnevik will also have chance to resume his formidable partnership with Spaniard Sergio Garcia which yielded three-and-a-half points from a possible four in 1999.

"Those two were magnificent at Brookline, there's a great harmony between the pair," said Torrance.