US captain Curtis Strange believes the partisanship that marred the 1999 Ryder Cup will give way to a friendlier contest next year.

His team will now defend the Cup against Europe at the Belfry in September 2002 after this year's event was postponed in the wake of the attacks on America.

Strange said: "I think it's going to be a little different, especially when you come from the US, because I don't think you forget why you moved back a year.

"It's always going to be the 2001 Ryder Cup - don't forget why we are moving it to 2002."

If, as expected, the gallery is less partisan than might have been the case before the attacks, Strange no doubt will not mind.

But it is not something he wants to dwell at present.

Excited

"I don't think that's the proper thing to be talking about at this particular time," he said. "We are in the middle of unbelievable circumstances here.

"We're never going to forget what happened, and nor should we, but I think we'll get excited again as the Ryder Cup gets closer."

Strange and USPGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem both support the decision to delay the Cup, although Finchem has one regret.

"My head was telling me it could not work." he said.

"My heart was telling me we were going to see 30,000 British people with American flags in their hands, so I was really torn."

Strange and Finchem were speaking on the eve of the Pennsylvania Classic at Laurel Valley Golf Club.

The venue is just 20 miles from where a hijacked United Airlines plane crashed in rural Somerset county 80 miles from Pittsburgh last Tuesday.

The tournament will honour the victims of the attacks with a five-minute break at noon on Thursday. Players will stop on the course and a ceremony will be held at the 18th hole.