US practice upsets Ryder Cup fans
The United States team were booed by frustrated spectators as strong winds disrupted their plans on the second day of practice for the Ryder Cup.
The US team, playing as a group of 12 rather than in pairs, chose not to play off tees at the longer holes, preferring to work on approach shots.
The decision meant they disappointed the fans waiting at the first tee.
We left everybody sitting in the stands by the first tee waiting. It was a mistake, said US captain Tom Lehman.
More : news.bbc.co.uk
Related Travel Information
Europe beat US, win Ryder Cup
Europe retained the Ryder Cup in emphatic style as they beat the US on Sunday with a record-equalling 18-and-a-half points to nine-and-a-half points margin at the K Club in Ireland to claim the trophy for a record third successive time.
Europes eight-time Ryder Cup talisman Colin Montgomerie kicked off the final day in torrential rain against David Toms. The Scot won one up at the 18th, having never been behind.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, bidding to win all five matches, went off second but came home before Montgomerie after a 4&3 defeat by the in-form Stewart Cink, who
Europe ride high on a tide of emotion
Amid scenes of high emotion, Europe defeated the US 181/2-91/2 yesterday for an unprecedented three Ryder Cup victories in a row to spark one of the biggest parties Ireland has known.
The atmosphere around the Palmer course in County Kildare was wet and heavy, but that failed to dampen the spirit of 45,000 fans who chanted and cheered throughout a long day during which the US never threatened.
It was the first time Europe had won every one of the five sessions. The two fourballs and foursomes at the K Club were all won 21/2-11/2
COLUMN-Europe enjoy rare world ranking advantage for Cup
The United States, on paper, have always gone into the Ryder Cup as overwhelming favourites.
They usually enjoy a virtual monopoly on major champions and have boasted the stronger line-up, partly because world rankings have favoured PGA Tour events over European tournaments.
This year, however, is likely to be very different.
If the 36th Ryder Cup was to be contested by teams based on this weeks points standings, the Europeans would start as the heavily fancied contenders.
Not only have they won four of the last five matches but, most surprisingly, they would
Ideal start for Europes Cup squad
European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam has opted to begin the match against the U.S. at the K Club, Ireland, from September 22-24 with the fourballs format.
Woosnam, whose prerogative it is as home captain to decide, has also chosen to play fourballs, where both players play the hole and the best score counts, on the Saturday morning.
After four fourballs and four foursomes on each day, the match concludes with 12 singles on the Sunday.
Since Seve Ballesteros introduced the idea in 1997 at Valderrama, Spain, the Europeans have favored starting with fourballs, which they feel is
Europe Heeds Its Gazprom 'Wake-Up Call'
World leaders increased calls for reducing Europe's dependency on gas supplies from Russia on Thursday as freezing temperatures forced cutbacks from Gazprom for the eighth day running and Russia continued to snipe at Ukraine, a vital transit country.
As political and business leaders gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum, Poland's prime minister and U.S. billionaire George Soros said the recent disruptions in gas supply meant Europe should find alternate sources.
Soros called Russia's recent standoffs with Ukraine and Georgia over prices "a wake-up call for Europe" as Russia used its might to gain leverage over
