Madam, - Congratulations to the European team for capturing the Ryder Cup. Their performance will certainly go down as one of the best in the history of the event.
Equally impressive was the behaviour of the Irish fans. Judging from what we saw on television, they were passionate about the competition without going over the top.
They cheered loudly for the European squad yet also acknowledged good shot-making by the Americans. Excellent sportsmanship was shown on the course - and thankfully, in the galleries as well.
Hopefully, Americans will show the same kind of hospitality when the greatest international sporting event returns to our soil in 2008. - Yours, etc,
JIM TICHY, Sports Director, WNWO-TV NBC 24, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
Madam, - Europe won the 2006 Ryder Cup. Well done! However, the US only lost the golf game. When the result was in, Tom Lehman in particular, as well as his team players, were outstanding in generosity of spirit, good humour, and big-hearted commentary.
Game prizes come and go but generosity of spirit and good-humour goes on for ever. A game lesson for everyone. - Yours, etc,
ANTO KERINS, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Madam, - The team was completely outplayed. The players did not really contest the match; they had not prepared properly for the opposition they faced; they appeared overawed by the occasion and failed to learn from their experience two years ago.
If only Mayo had the luxury of escaping from this island in a private jet! - Yours, etc,
KEVIN BRADY, Hollywood Grove, Newry, Co Down.
Madam, - Kudos to Miriam Lord at the K Club for her article, "From the altar of the tee to the shrine of the green" (September 22nd). How enjoyable to read a report of the day from the perspective of an acute observer; she is truly blessed with a unique talent.
Furthermore, she perfectly illustrated my belief that the main reason for the continuing popularity of all sports is that it gives men something to talk about that allows them to think they're having a conversation. - Yours, etc,
JEANETTE F. HUBER, Scilly, Kinsale, Co Cork.
Madam, - Congratulations on Tom Humphries's excellent take on that overhyped ballfest known as the Ryder Cup. - Yours etc,
PJ BERRY, Windsor Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Madam, - I feel I really must take you to task for including poor old Tom Humphries on your Ryder Cup team at the K Club.
Surely he would have been much happier covering one of the many club football matches taking place over the weekend.
Knowing his opinions on the Ryder Cup, this must have been a traumatic experience for our man from Marino and could further exacerbate his peculiar obsession with Pringle knitwear. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SULLIVAN, Saval Park Crescent, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - After all the criticism from many quarters that the Ryder Cup was all about money and was the ultimate in brass commercialism and filthy lucre, I was pleasantly surprised when I attended on Saturday.
On arrival you were given a player profile and match booklets free of charge. The only advertising hoardings on the course were at the tee boxes. There was just one merchandising shop in the whole of the K Club. The giant screens showed golf only, instead of interspersing sport with ads for various products and the entertainment lasted from 8am until 6.30pm.
At how many sports venues in Ireland - professional or amateur - could you go that? - Yours, etc,
TIM CAREY, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Sharon Ní Bheoláin undoubtedly looked stunning at the Ryder Cup opening and closing ceremonies. But on both occasions I found myself looking around my living-room for the emergency exits and checking that my seat and table were in the fully upright position. - Yours, etc,
CIARAN O'REILLY, Windsor Park, Belfast 9.
Madam, - Bertie Ahern's failure to ensure full TV coverage of the Ryder Cup on RTÉ will not be forgotten in 2007. - Yours, etc,
EUGENE McADAMS, Oakley Park, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Madam, - Thanks to Darren and company. It was epic. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'CONNOR, Millbrook Court, Midleton, Co Cork.