James rides storm to hang on to post

James has been involved in controversy and a war of words with Nick Faldo over the book on his Ryder Cup captaincy last year. In it he revealed that he had put a good luck message from Faldo to the team in a waste bin - and also cast doubts about Faldo's suitability to be a captain one day.

Despite the row and its overshadowing of recent tournaments, which has angered sponsors, James insists he has had no regrets about writing the book.

Nevertheless, he was delighted last night when, after a three-hour meeting, the committee voted 10-0 in support of Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance's choices as James and Ian Woosnam as vice-captains.

It was also decided that the book was not relevant to James's position as committee chairman and no vote was taken on whether he should remain.

Faldo reacted in the expected fashion. ''I'm very disappointed in the tour,'' he said. ''If they feel quite happy that their captain and chairman can slag off someone then okay.

''To be honest, I'm stunned. The bottom line is that you can write a book like that and it does not matter.

''Fine. When I do my book I will say what I like and apologise two months later.''

James intends speaking to Faldo in the next two weeks to try to clear the air, but when asked what he expected from that and what sort of relationship he had with James, Faldo answered: ''I've never really had a relationship with him.

''I don't know what I'll say to him. How does he know what sort of captain I'll be?

''I'm not interested in being captain until I'm 50. If he can change so can I.''

James was branded a bad boy of the 1979 match along with Ken Brown after being found guilty of misbehaviour. He was fined, while Brown was suspended.

Faldo added: ''If this has not brought the game into disrepute why has this taken seven weeks to sort out? Surely they should have sat down straightaway and said that.

''It means I can say what I like. Release a book in December and have a free run - there's plenty to say.''

Committee members Bernhard Langer and Jean Van de Velde, who have spoken out against James, were not present at the meeting, but according to James their views were expressed.

Torrance said he was pleased to have the full support of the committee.

He said: ''Mark is going to have a chat with Nick and I hope that that will be the end of it.''

James added: ''I'm happy that Sam has had unanimous support in his choice. We all want to put this matter to bed. Some mud has been slung and we need to move on.

''The whole committee is aware of the views others hold and that this has been extremely distracting for sponsors.

''The unfortunate timing of the serialisation (during the tour's flagship event, the Volvo PGA championship) in May caused a fuss that nobody who has read the book could dream of.

''I'm surprised by the fuss. I'm not to talk about the 'binning' of the letter again - I've talked enough.

''We all agreed that it would be a good idea to stop talking about it. We've now taken a stance.

''It has been detracting from our sponsors and I could have done without it.

''It's not been much fun, but I want to do what's best for the team and I am going to try to build some bridges.''

James said he had no regrets and insisted that he had not, as had been claimed, betrayed anyone's trust.

''I don't regret writing the book. I think some of it is funny and there's a lot of good in it.

''And absolutely I have not betrayed any trusts. There's no question of that.

''All the players are acutely aware of the issues at stake.''

American Tom Lehman, whose charge onto the 17th green in Boston last September after Justin Leonard had holed a putt but before Jose Maria Olazabal had had a chance to reply, is also at Loch Lomond this week.

The former Open champion accused James of ''dragging the Ryder Cup through the muck'' when the serialisation began, but refused to re-enter the row last night.

''Golf is too great a sport to carry on any hard feelings,'' he said.

''I hope and wish that as professionals we can let things rest."