A round-up of other Ryder Cup stories in brief...
Caroline shows support for band of Leprechauns
The WAGS - wives and girlfriends - of the players have the best viewing ticket of all, with access all areas inside the ropes . . . . and it is a concession they need, given the huge galleries attending the Ryder Cup.
Yet, Caroline Harrington was so intrigued by the presence of a motley crew of a dozen leprechauns at one point of yesterday's foursomes match involving her husband, Pádraig, Robert Karlsson, Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim that she briefly relinquished her place inside the ropes.
Caroline - nails polished in the colours of Europe, blue and yellow - made a point of going to the fans, dressed in leprechaun outfits despite the heat and with fake beards, to ask where they were from. It transpired a number were actually from Stackstown, where Harrington learnt his golf.
Identity of 12th man to be kept under wraps except in emergency
BEFORE TOMORROW'S singles matches, each captain will be required to hand in an envelope containing the name of one member of his team . . . and no player wants his name in it.
The name is that of the player chosen by the captain to sit out the singles if someone from the other team proves unable to take part in the competition for any reason, such as illness or injury.
The rule has been in force for almost 30 years, but captains are reluctant to talk about it because they don't want to reveal which player they consider their "number 12" man.
Paul Azinger will give his envelope to Kerry Haigh, manager of tournament operations for the PGA of America.
Europe's captain, Nick Faldo, will hand his envelope to David Garland, the PGA European Tour's director of tournaments.
"They won't be opened unless they're needed," said Haigh, adding that after the competition ends, "they'll be destroyed."
The envelopes have come into play three times since the system began in 1979, most recently in 1993 when Sam Torrance had a foot infection and had to have a toenail removed.
The US team sat out Lanny Wadkins.
Big hitters outside the ropes
THE RYDER CUP at The K Club may have come and gone, but the Irish presence here at Valhalla has still brought in some heavy hitters.
Michael Smurfit, owner of The K Club, was an honorary observer at yesterday's first day of proceedings while Martin Cullen, the Minister for Sport, is scheduled to host a "Meet The Irish" reception at Ashford Stud, owned by the bloodstock breeder John Magnier, this evening.
Monty makes cut-out
COLIN MONTGOMERIE made it to Valhalla after all . . . but, for a change, he wasn't saying a word.
And for good reason: the Monty present at yesterday's opening day's play was a life-sized cardboard cut-out in a Scottish kilt carried around the course by a group of Scots who are now living on the Isle of Man.
