US team hitting form at right time

THE confidence that abounded among European Ryder Cup supporters with the announcement of the US team was largely dissipated by weekend developments in the NEC World Championship at Akron, Ohio.

Not alone did Stewart Cink, one of Hal Sutton’s so-called “moderate and uninspiring ” wild card selections, capture the first prize thanks to an 11 under par total of 269, but many of his teammates at Oakland Hills next month were close behind.

Tiger Woods may have had his troubles - at the 17th on Saturday he shanked a long iron on to the roof of a hospitality tent and went further right on Sunday, causing him to flail wildly at a nearby bush in exasperation - but he somehow finished joint runner-up.