Stockton: I stirred up Ryder Cup

Dave Stockton is back at the course where he led the US to Ryder Cup victory in 1991 - and still has things to say about Bernard Gallacher.

The match 21 years ago was dubbed the "War on the Shore" and was full of incident, but according to Stockton "most of the controversies were in rival captain's Bernhard Gallacher's mind - he saw suspicious happenings around every single frigging corner".

It was the week when a local radio host urged listeners to "Wake Up The Enemy", Paul Azinger called Seve Ballesteros "the king of gamesmanship" and Corey Pavin and Steve Pate wore Army camouflage caps.

Stockton, who on Wednesday night receives a Distinguished Service Award from the PGA of America, had been entrusted with the task of winning the trophy back after defeats in 1985 and 1987 and a tie in 1989.

"Yes, I wanted to get it back. No, not at all costs, but I did want to," he said.

"I stirred up a hornet's nest, but I don't care because there will be hornets out there at Medinah this year."

The 1991 contest was decided in the end by Bernhard Langer missing a six-foot putt on the last green of the last match - and the fact that he was there made Stockton furious with Gallacher.

"The thing that really ticked me off is that on Tuesday night I find out that Langer's daughter, who was around two, had a possible terminal illness.

"You don't put him off last on the last day - I was absolutely flabbergasted when I saw that pairing. I was so mad.

"Obviously I'm glad we won, but I felt terrible that it came down to him."