Golf:Not even the sodden conditions could dampen the spirit as chants of "Ole, Ole, Ole" rang around the amphitheatre that is the first tee on the opening morning of the 38th Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
Quite how long play will last is anyone’s guess but the Twenty Ten course was taking an almighty hammering.
American Dustin Johnson struck the first shot in pouring rain and found the right rough off the tee at the par-four opening hole. He and playing partner Phil Mickelson were one down in the early stages against Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, who birdied the par five second.
The all-Northern Irish pairing of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were next onto the tee against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar with the US Open champion’s par at the first good enough to put Europe one up.
There were touching scenes on the practice putting green ahead of the second match. Vice captains Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia came onto the green as McIlroy cut a lone figure making a few final strokes before heading to the first tee.
Both vices came over and gave the young rookie a team hug before a third vice, Paul McGinley, did the same and simply said “are you all set?”
Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher take on Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker while Pádraig Harrington and Luke Donald were up against rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton.
Preferred lies are in operation such are the conditions while the squeegee-men have their work cut out. European captain Colin Montgomerie admitted: “I was told if this was a regulation strokeplay event, it would have been stopped.”
As the deluge continues the fairways and greens are flooding while drives in some cases are travelling little over 200yards as they pitch and stop instantly. By 8.45am the top pairing were on the course for one hour and had barely managed three holes. The pace was pedestrian to say the least.
Friday Morning Pairings(Europe first)
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer 2 upPhil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson thru 4
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell A/SStewart Cink/Matt Kuchar thru 3
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher 1 upSteve Stricker/Tiger Woods thru 3
Luke Donald/Pádraig Harrington 1 downBubba Watson/Jeff Overton thru 1