Even "manana" wouldn't have sufficed for Seve Ballesteros, who let his outwardly calm demeanour slip. His ire was directed at the local San Roque radar police who chose to stage a demonstration on the roads around Valderrama yesterday. "Why today? Why this week?" asked Ballesteros. "This is like throwing stones at your own roof, a time when 700 million people are watching the Ryder Cup on television and the event is doing so much good for Spain and tourism."
The trade unionists in the Spanish police decided that the best time to put some pressure on their bosses was on the eve of their country's biggest sporting event since the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Their choice of time and venue didn't please their country's greatest golfer. "Maybe they are correct in their grievances, but they are wrong to express them here and now. I don't think it is the right thing to do," he said.
European Backers
Punters have started to dip into their pockets to support Europe's bid to retain the Ryder Cup.
"We've had virtually no money on Europe since they won the trophy at Oak Hill two years ago. In contrast, the Americans were heavily backed and moved from 5 to 6 to 2 to 5," said a spokesman for Ladbrokes. "But suddenly we've had a late plunge on Seve's men."
Still, one English backer didn't seem over-enthused with Europe's chances when he walked into a Manchester betting office yesterday and put a £30,000 double on the United States winning the Ryder Cup and Wigan winning Rugby League's Super Premiership. If the two teams win, he'll collect a cool £69,000.
Turning Green
At a time when ecology and golf are major issues in the development of new courses, particularly links terrain, in Europe, a major initiative to improve matters will be launched at Valderrama on Sunday morning.
Prior to the final day singles, a group of highfliers will be shown around the course to observe some of its ecological features. Jacques Santer, president of the European Commission, Britain's Prince Andrew, Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands, who is honorary president of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Juan Antonio Samaranch, the president of the International Olympic Committee and former US president George Bush will be given a guided tour.
The "Committed to Green" initiative is being promoted by the European Golf Association Ecology Unit, supported by the R & A and the PGA European Tour. The aim is for clubs and their members to promote good environmental practice.
Record Breaker
It will be officially beaten this morning - one of the finest golfing records ever to have been held by an Irishman. And Peter Alliss confessed himself a trifle sad yesterday at the idea of his good friend Christy O'Connor Snr no longer being at the head of things.
Between 1955 and 1973 - when, incidentally he was 48 years old - O'Connor played in 10 successive Ryder Cups. Now, that achievement is about to be passed by Nick Faldo who is set to make an 11th appearance in a row, since his debut at Southport and Ainsdale in 1977.
"I suppose it had to happen, but I doubt if those sort of records will be done by anyone starting out now," said Alliss, who started a most productive Ryder Cup partnership with O'Connor Snr when they had a foursomes victory against Art Wall and Doug Ford at Eldorado in 1959.
Alliss went on: "Careers tend to be shorter these days. In my own case for instance, I played in eight Ryder Cups before retiring when I was 38. I can't see Tiger Woods lasting that long, not with all the money he's earning."
In a Ryder Cup context, it is also a notable weekend for the genial Englishman. Up to now, he and his father Percy, were the first father and son to play in the Ryder Cup. But Spain's Ignacio Garrido is set to emulate his father, Antonio, who played in the first European team in 1979.
But reflecting on five appearances by his father and eight by himself, Alliss concluded: "I won't feel that the Alliss record has truly been taken away until a father and son represent Europe 14 times."
Winners All
"In the end, I believe the depth of talent on the American team will return the Ryder Cup to American shores." So says Curtis Strange in his assessment of this weekend's battle.
Of course he would say that, wouldn't he? What is interesting, however, is the manner in which the whipping boy of the Oak Hill defeat two years ago, has succeeded in coming to terms with the bitter reaction to his singles collapse against Nick Faldo.
"How can anyone really lose in the Ryder Cup?" asks Strange. "It's the greatest spectacle in golf and it stands for everything that is good about the game. It has camaraderie, drama, emotion and 24 of the best players in the world, who will shake hands and remain friends after the last putt is holed."
It is to be hoped that some of the lurid tabloids will bear that in mind when a player comes unstuck this weekend, as at least one the unfortunate competitor most certainly will.
