Tom Lehman has been given the job of leading the 2006 American Ryder Cup team as the try to restore some pride after their heaviest ever Ryder Cup defeat.
The 45-year-old was tonight named as captain in succession to Hal Sutton for the first-ever match on Irish soil at the K Club in September 2006.
Lehman, who played in three Ryder Cups during the 1990s, held off the challenge of fellow major winners Mark O'Meara, Larry Nelson, Fred Couples and Corey Pavin for the captaincy.
Lehman was delighted to be handed the captaincy and said: "What a thrill and an honour it is. Being the Ryder Cup captain is certainly beyond my wildest dreams"
"The Ryder Cup, to me, is the ultimate golf experience. I have a real passion for the event. But we have a tough road ahead of us. Although we always go into the Ryder Cup as the favourites, four of the last five have been won by Europe."
Lehman, who made his Ryder Cup debut at Oak Hill in 1995, was on the US team that rallied in the last-day singles to win a turbulent match at Brookline in 1999 by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2.
He came in for some heavy criticism from the European team for his over-the-top celebrations after the American claimed victory.
