Madam, - About 20 years ago, interest in the Ryder Cup was declining because Britain and Ireland were no longer able to produce a team of golfers good enough to compete against the US. To solve this problem, it was decided that future matches would be between Europe and the US.
In view of Europe's domination of the event since that decision, is it time to reconsider the format once again, and have the Ryder Cup contested by Europe and the Rest of the World? - Yours, etc.,
DAVID EVANS, Hampton, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Madam, - Tom Humphries, authentic working-class hero as sports writer, is beginning to grow tedious. His peevish and redundant piece on the Ryder Cup (Sport, September 20th) paper is unworthy of him, and of you.
Golf is tainted by money. Oh dear. Name me a sport that isn't. Even his beloved GAA promotes the pint.
And don't start me off about soccer.
The Ryder Cup is an epic sporting occasion. We enjoy this bi-annual David and Goliath confrontation, in which we frequently get to administer a chastening dose of humility to our friends across the Atlantic.
But all Mr Humphries gives us is an undergraduate essay about spoiled millionaires. Whatever their current status, most of the European team come from modest backgrounds. Langer's father was, I believe, a caddy.
Cheap shots about Pringle sweaters should be confined to the fashion pages.
As a Tipp man, I'm delighted Tom was in Croke Park yesterday to see us crush the old enemy Cork. Why not celebrate that instead of whinging about a sport he clearly can't abide. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN O'SULLIVAN, Saval Park Crescent, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - After a weekend of nonsense, such as as grown men in bars shouting at little white balls on the television screen, it was refreshing to read Locker Room on Monday morning. Tom Humphries for President! - Yours, etc.,
JIM CUNNINGHAM, Rathbeale Crescent, Swords, Co Dublin.