Weather-beaten Ryder Cup to finish on time

The weather-hit Ryder Cup should finish on time, organisers said today.

Even though fierce winds and torrential rain forced them to shut the K Club near Dublin, delaying the entry of 45,000 all ticket fans by almost three hours, George O’Grady, executive director of the European Tour, said he believed the match would end on schedule on Sunday.

There are contingency plans for additional time on Monday, but Mr O’Grady said: “We have time up our sleeve when Sunday comes. I think this is a one-off today.”

He added: “We’ve had contingencies for Monday built in right from the beginning, but we are not considering that at the moment.”

A number of trees, including one at the closing 18th hole, were blown down by 40mph-plus gusts, leaving fans locked out because of health and safety fears.

With heavy rain forecast for tomorrow, the official opening ceremony for the Europe versus United States match may have to take place indoors.

Because of the heavy underfoot conditions, organisers may also have to consider allowing the players to lift, clean and place the ball and hit from preferred lies.

A decision will have to be made ahead of Friday’s 8am start.

There are giant corporate hospitality marquees, tents and grandstands all over the site at Straffan, Co Kildare, but there would be potential structural difficulties if the gales come close to hitting the 50 mph mark.

The fans were allowed in for today’s delayed and shortened practice sessions after wind speeds dropped and the rain died down.

Transport to the course was suspended for a time, leaving spectators stranded at shuttle bus pick-up points outside the two-mile security zone which has been set up. Many were on the verge of returning home when it was decided to open the gates.

US captain Tom Lehman said the players were used to delays and playing on Mondays.

He added: “I think we would all like to finish on Sunday on schedule. I think it would be better for the tournament, better for television, better for the fans, better for everybody.

“We’d like to see it go according to plan just for that reason alone.”

It was still wet and windy when the European players arrived at the practice area to warm up before playing nine holes.

Captain Ian Woosnam said the 12 were offered the option of staying in their hotel, but all decided they wanted to tee up.

He said: “You’ve got 40,000 people here who paid a lot of money and wanted to see the golfers … The Irish fans are ubelievable. Ireland has waited 79 years for the Ryder Cup to come to these Isles.”

Ticket sales for today’s practice session were worth an estimated €1.5mand there are bound to be fears of further weather disruption. Another 40,000 fans are expected tomorrow, and the same again on Saturday and Sunday.

Tiger Woods, the world’s No.1 player who is on the US team, said he was ready - rain, or no rain.

Playing in bad weather was nothing new. He added: “All the guys who have been involved in golf, you’ve got to play through conditions like this.

“It’s all about quality of ball striking, controlling your flight. That’s something these guys can do. Obviously if they couldn’t do that, they wouldn’t be on this team.”

But he also indicated the possibility of a forced introduction of preferred lies if mud continues to stick to the ball.

He said: “Well, I hope we play. Hopefully this thing starts on time. If and when it does, I think we are probably going to have to because we played yesterday and we were getting mud balls.

“Obviously a lot more rain is going to fall before we tee it up on Friday.”

Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington, who practised with Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, said the course was difficult to play, but certainly playable. The players he said, would be happy to start tomorrow, rather than Friday.

He added: “They are chomping at the bit. Maybe not getting 18 holes will help us. Maybe this is a blessing.”