Europe weather the storm

Europe’s players today braved the bad weather on the second day of official practice ahead of the Ryder Cup at the K Club.

Winds gusting to more than 40mph saw fans prevented from travelling to the course amid fears for their safety, and also kept the European and American teams from practising as scheduled.

Spectators were eventually allowed into the course at 10am and were rewarded for their patience with the appearance of the home side for at least nine holes of foursomes practice.

European captain Ian Woosnam revealed he had given his team the option to play or not, but was glad they had all agreed to head out onto the course.

“I can understand a lot of guys might not want to go out and ruin their swings but this might be the calmest day for a while,” said the former world number one.

“One of the main reasons we came out is that 45,000 people had paid a lot of money to come and watch so I thought it was important we went at least to the practice ground, even if it was to just hit a few shots.

“I gave them the option and they all stepped up to the mark and I’m very pleased with that. They will all play nine holes and see what it’s like.

“As a PR thing for us it was good to get out and sign a few autographs at least and show our face.”

Tickets for the practice days cost 35 euros and with around 45,000 fans expected, that amounts to more than £1million in revenue.

Travel chaos inevitably ensued this morning when the course was initially closed to non-essential staff.

A statement from Ryder Cup organisers read: “The Ryder Cup site was deemed unsafe under the cover of darkness at 6.30am and with winds gusting to more than 40mph.

“All structures have subsequently been checked and loose impediments such as screens, fencing and flags secured. With 45,000 spectators anticipated both Ryder Cup LLP and the Garda Siochána were quite clear that health and safety issues were paramount.

“The weather forecast at 9.00am was significantly better than that of earlier in the morning and Ryder Cup LLP and the Garda Siochána were in agreement that the staff could enter at 9.00am ahead of the public being admitted at 10.00am.

“Both Ryder Cup LLP and the Garda Siochána would like to thank the public for their patience, especially those who were compelled to wait in the park-and-ride facilities.”

With more bad weather forecast, the teams and officials have already been in discussions about whether preferred lies – also known as ‘lift, clean and place’ - will be necessary when play gets under way on Friday.

But Woosnam added that he has yet to discuss contingency plans to extend the event into Monday if necessary.

Any delay to play would make it difficult to complete foursomes and fourballs on each of the first two days, but with Sunday comprising only 12 singles there is an opportunity then to make up for lost time.

Nine years ago at Valderrama in Spain a torrential downpour on the opening morning delayed play, but the event still finished on Sunday – just before another deluge.