Ryder announcer succumbs to nerves

The first mistake of the Ryder Cup’s opening day came not from any of the players, but from official starter Ivor Robson.

He announced to the crowd – and, of course, to the millions watching on television – that the morning’s play was foursomes rather than fourballs.

Padraig Harrington, partnering Colin Montgomerie in the top game, went and checked and then match referee John Paramor informed Robson of the error so that it was not repeated for the following three games.

Maybe it is something to do with the K Club. In the European Open a few years ago Retief Goosen was looking forward to being introduced as US Open champion - and Robson did not say it.