Colin Byrne Caddie's ViewThere may well be only 24 official players at The K-Club for the Ryder Cup but judging by the number of other professional golfers who I have seen either out of uniform or wearing a very different one, an entire tournament field could quite easily be made up.

At one stage yesterday I was surrounded by a gaggle of former European Tour players, John McHenry, now director of golf at The K-Club, Silvio Grappasoni, who was commentating for Italian television, and Jay Townsend, who does a lot of golf radio work worldwide. They all played the tour in the 1990s.

There is a bevy of current Irish professionals commentating for RTÉ Radio that includes Damian McGrane, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie.

They are all very familiar with the Palmer Course having played many European Opens here so their opinions should be as insightful as they come.

As Irishmen at the biggest golfing event for a European, it will be tough for them to be on the other side of the ropes. It may also be a big motivator for them to aspire to future teams.

Of course the Sky team is made up of ex-professionals and their ex-Ryder Cup stars include Ronan Rafferty and Howard Clark. I also came across Graeme McDowell, who was tuning up for Five Live commentary today.

The most surprising part-time media correspondent I saw at Straffan yesterday was Thomas Levet. He is working for French television.

For a member of the 2004 victorious European team in Detroit it must be really tough for Levet to be in a commentating capacity at Straffan. There will be a strong sense of longing to participate for Thomas.

Being someone connected to the game there is no doubt, as the first day of play approaches and after witnessing the previous scenes of jubilation and fist pumping that have been screened in strategic areas all week long around the tented village and other key locations in the complex, I have to admit I wouldn't mind being part of it all in my capacity as a bagman.

In fact it feels positively odd to be denied access to the practice range, locker-room and the course.

The fact that so many current players have made the effort to come to Ireland in a commentating capacity is an indication of the magnitude of the event.

Despite tournaments going ahead in Asia this weekend, the American and European professional golfing world is very much focused on Ireland.

Having been appalled by the opening ceremony in Detroit two years ago with its almost cringe-making array of showbiz at its worst the official opening of the 36th Ryder Cup on the practice range of the Palmer Course was most refreshing.

Amid speculation that the ceremony might be relocated to an indoor arena due to earlier bad weather forecasts, by the afternoon the sun beamed down upon it right on time.

Just as decorum was restored to the Ryder Cup after the unethical charging of the green at Brookline in 1999, whereby future captains made a point of emphasising impeccable behaviour, dignity was certainly re-established on the elaborate golf-ball stage at Straffan.

With a strong traditional theme of music and creative expression the spectacle was both tasteful and entertaining.

What a shame that the creative director, Rupert Murray, did not live to see his vision for this opening ceremony come to fruition.

The practice range that became a playground yesterday has since been transformed once again to its original state.

Given the pageantry of the past three days of practice it will be a pleasant surprise for those of us who have been in Straffan all week that today the shots will actually count.

The cushion of team-practice rounds has now been placed back on its easy-chair in the locker-room and it is time for the harsh reality of showtime.

It is fitting that Padraig Harrington should open the European Ryder Cup campaign at 8am this morning.