The Diary

Steve Stricker has warned the Europeans not to underestimate the influence Tiger Woods can have on this Ryder Cup.

Like the rest of the Americans at Medinah, the former world number one and 14-time major winner has a losing Ryder Cup record and has not figured in the majors this year but Woods has shown signs he is back in business after rebuilding his swing and winning three tournaments this year.

Stricker, who has forged a successful partnership with Woods at both the Ryder and Presidents Cups, said he can see a Tiger with burgeoning self-belief.

“I think his confidence level is growing all the time. We can see it just from his year that he’s had and the way he’s going about his business, the way he’s carrying himself, the type of shots that he’s hitting.

“And he’s won three times. So you can see that growing. When we compare it to the Tiger of old, I don’t think he’s quite there yet. And he’ll probably be one of the first guys to tell you that because what he did back in the early 2000s where he was really dominating the game is something that we may never see again from anybody. So it’s hard to compare him back to those years.

“But I definitely think he’s gaining confidence, moving in the right direction.

“I’ve talked to him a bunch the last month and he feels good about where he’s going.

* When Phil Mickelson tees off at Medinah today he will move clear in the American record books as the most capped player for the US.

This will be the four-time major winner’s ninth successive Ryder Cup.

Yet, no American press conference at the Ryder Cup is now complete without a table-tennis question and with the USA having three ping-pong tables in their team room, their love for the sport is a source of fascination for the American media.

Mickelson did not escape.

Question: “How does success at table-tennis or a good team room help you make a critical putt in a match? Mickelson: “Mojo. You’ve got to have momentum. You’ve got to feel it.

“And it’s been good for Tiger and I on the pong table. It’s been nice.”

So there.

* Tiger Woods plays his seventh Ryder Cup this week, but his memory of his only Walker Cup appearance is far different to that of one of his opponents in Wales in 1985.

Woods said during last week’s Tour Championship: “I was introduced and just got a huge ovation of boos.

“I’m like ‘oh, okay, welcome to the Walker Cup’.”

But Stephen Gallacher, who played with fellow Scot Gordon Sherry against Woods and John Harris at Porthcawl that first morning, told Press Association Sport today: “I have absolutely no memories of anybody booing – no chance.

“I was standing alongside him and it’s the sort of thing that would stick in your mind.

“I would be very, very, very surprised if anybody did anything like that. I honestly can’t see it happening at an amateur event.”

Woods and Gallacher, nephew of three-time European Ryder Cup captain Bernard, did not even hit opening drives in the match. Sherry and Harris went first.

The Americans won it 4&3, but Woods then famously lost his singles to Gary Wolstenholme, going out of bounds with his second shot to the final hole, and Britain and Ireland won 14-10.

* The Olympic Games’ mostsuccessful medallist Michael Phelps is a keen golfer although his prowess as a swimmer might not be emulated any time soon.

Playing in a charity event at Medinah this week, Phelps sent his tee shot at the par-three second into the drink. “Don’t get wet, Michael!” came the heckle.