[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Could Sauron have bound the Ring to himself. Since the Ring is his power, he could touch it, or carry it, even without physical hands.

But one thing's for sure: he did carry the Ring to Númenor. Aside from Sharkey's quote from the Letters, substantial evidence point to it:

1. He could never leave the Ring behind. Aside from physical disconnection from a great part of his power, he could never trust anyone to whom he leaves the Ring to. Even if he leaves the Ring in some sort of safe, who knows what would happen to anyone who could feel its presence, and be tempted by it?

2. He dominated the Númenoreans, an otherwise learned people, quite quickly. Could he have done it with only a honeyed tongue and good looks alone? (Sauron's good looks - eww!)