Silence marks Ryder Cup opening

A minute’s silence and a lone piper playing for a further minute were the poignant highlights of today’s opening ceremony for the 34th Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

The marks of respect were staged in memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks on the United States last September, which resulted in the Ryder Cup being postponed for 12 months.

Prayers and blessings were said for all those who lost their lives.

There was one other loss remembered during the minute’s silence and the lone piping, that of former United States Ryder Cup player Payne Stewart, who died in an air crash since the last competition at Brookline three years ago.

The timetable of events for the two-hour ceremony kicked off with a welcome from the Candolir Choir, a Birmingham Welsh singing outfit.

Next came a video of the history of the event, with past players introduced spanning the past 50 years.

The master of ceremonies, respected golf journalist Renton Laidlaw, was the man introducing the dignitaries, who included Phil Weaver, chairman of the PGA and joint chairman of Ryder Cup Ltd, and Jack Connolly, president of the PGA of America.

All that was left to complete the timetable of events was declaring the Ryder Cup open, and that honour fell to former player and designer of the Brabazon course at The Belfry, David Thomas.