"Who are you, who are you?"

John Huggan looks at the future well-being of the Ryder Cup and says it faces major issues due in part to the PGA Tour's apathy toward the event. Therefore, he notes the presence of a certain man all week on the first tee. Huggan calls it hypocrisy, I think that's strong. More like stunning audacity.

So it is that, pushed back by the still recent introduction of the incomprehensible but highly lucrative Fed-Ex Cup play-offs, we are here at Celtic Mud… sorry, Manor, in the first week of October rather than the middle of September, a time when better weather is at least more likely. Don't hold your breath on that changing any time soon, too. Four years hence, when the Ryder Cup is due to make what will be only its second-ever visit to Scotland at Gleneagles, the matches will again be pushed into October, a time when - although obviously unlikely - snow is possible so far north.

All of which makes the smug presence of PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem on Celtic Manor's first tee these past few days all the more hypocritical. There he has been, posing for smiling pictures with all the other so-called dignitaries as if the huge popularity of this unique and highly enjoyable event was somehow down to him and his evil empire. At least the good-humoured crowd has been dishing out some well-merited stick to the preening bureaucrat, asking rhetorically, "Who are you, who are you?"

2010 Ryder Cup Day Two AFTERNOON Open Thread

The matches, with the U.S. leading 6-4:

FOURSOMES:

10:45 a.m. – Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, U.S., vs. Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, Europe.

10:57 a.m. – Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan, U.S., vs. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, Europe.


FOURBALLS:

11:09 a.m. – Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson, U.S., vs. Padraig Harrington and Ross Fisher, Europe.

11:24 a.m. – Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton, U.S., vs. Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez, Europe.

11:39 a.m. – Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, U.S., vs. Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari, Europe.

11:54 a.m. – Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, U.S., vs. Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer, Europe.

Cink's Lunch Break Proves Slow Play Policy Is On Hold

Stewart Cink's sandwich break prior to his huge birdie putt on 17 of the morning foursome match against McIlroy-McDowell appeared to be a blatant slow play move and confirmation that the Captain's agreed-upon slow play policy was a farce.

And Jack Parrott tweeted this fun but not surprising stat about pacing...

2010 Ryder Cup Day Two Open Thread

I'll be resting comfortably when play (hopefully) resumes on Saturday, also known as Purple Cardigan Saturday for the U.S. team!

It's going to be a long day so pace yourselves, but night owls and early risers, I do expect to rise at 5 a.m. Pacific time to the sounds of Dan, Johnny and many updates on the completion of session one!

A Few Day One Ryder Cup Ledes

Doug Ferguson for AP:

Only in the Ryder Cup can so little golf produce so much drama.

Larry Dorman for the New York Times:

Once the rain stopped falling, after a 24-hour downpour that would have drowned most golf events, putts started falling at Celtic Manor and the 38th Ryder Cup sprang to life on Friday — before taking the rest of the night off for some well-earned rest.

James Corrigan for The Independent:

The Ryder Cup is not the Ryder Cup any more.

In their desperation to avoid the first Monday finish in the 83-year history of the biennial dust-up, the organisers and captains have decided the match will be played over four sessions instead of five. At the end of a torrid day there was only one thing to say – "what a shower".

Lawrence Donegan for The Guardian:

Water, water everywhere at Celtic Manor today, sending the timetable for the 2010 Ryder Cup into disarray and the USA team back to the clubhouse at the end of play with morale restored after a wardrobe malfunction threatened to bury their defence of the trophy in farce.

John Huggan for GolfDigest.com:

Exactly two years on and finally Nick Faldo can take credit for getting something right as European Ryder Cup skipper. "Bring your waterproofs," the six-time major champion had quipped, foot firmly in mouth, in reference to Wales as he signed off from what has to be the most cringe-making closing ceremony oration ever heard at the biennial contest.

Mark Reason for The Telegraph:

What a shower. The Americans' waterproofs sprang a leak. Celtic Manor in October lost over seven hours play through heavy rain.

Now instead of the customary five sessions of play, there will be a second session consisting of six foursomes and a third session consisting of two foursomes and two fourballs. The nuances of captaincy have been lost. All 12 players must now play in the next two sessions in a format that is horribly similar to the wretched Presidents Cup.

Ty, it's probably something like Mark.Reason@telegraph.co.uk. Just a guess.

Leakage And Rain Gear

Look, they should have had Gore-Tex no matter how wretched the company may be. But I got to thinking tonight in watching some of the action again: have you ever seen a rainsuit that had a bunch of stripes, lettering and other stitching? Why of course not because that might compromise the thing.

Jamie Jackson, reporting on the rain suit, bag and other water related matters from Friday.

The clothing company defended itself in a statement: "Sun Mountain has been designing and selling outerwear for more than two decades. We have provided rainwear to over 150 tour players and numerous US teams. Sun Mountain has staff on the ground at the Ryder Cup working in conjunction with the PGA of America on this issue." Privately sources at the company claimed part of the trouble was the stitching specifically requested by the USA team which caused "significant leakage problems".

Graeme: “We will save the partying for Sunday or Monday night"

Nothing like a little bulletin board material...too bad no one will have any time to read it Saturday with a whirlwind of matches. Brian Keough reports:

“The forecast is set good and we want to give the people what they came here to watch, which is golf and a chance to finish on Sunday evening.That is what this golf tournament deserves. So fingers crossed. It is going to be a long day but a good day with plenty of good golf to watch.

“We will save the partying for Sunday or Monday night, depending on what happens. We have good strength in depth in our team and having all 12 on the golf course tomorrow is pretty good for us. We are pretty excited about that change in format.”

Steve Elling files a fun look at the advantages for Europe (in theory) with the new format, but as he notes, after Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson's solid early play, theories are pretty useless. But at least the Captain has given it great thought before signing off on the concept.

"For me, I feel like this makes it a lot easier," Pavin said. "As I said before, sitting four guys out is very brutal to do as a captain. It's nice now that all of the guys are going out.

"I'm pleased that the solution was thought of by very smart people, other than myself, because I'm not a smart person. So I was glad it was done and I think it's going to be great. It's going to be tremendous for the fans. They are going to have six matches to watch on the golf course, as opposed to four."

But that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. Pavin said he hadn't had time to wrap his head around any supposed disadvantage his team might encounter.

"I haven't had much time to think about it, actually," he said. "But it is what it is and I have to go out there and put six pairs together in foursomes and then put two in foursomes for the third session and four in better-ball.

"So I don't even think about stuff like that. I just kind of get the best six teams I can possibly get and send them out. It is what it is. I don't even think about things like this."

Euros Continue To Tweet; Americans Remain Determined To Follow Captain's Orders

Brian Viner at Celtic Manor reports on the Europeans killing time tapping away jabs on their phones while Americans, in particular, first day birdie machine Stewart Cink, surely would love to be sharing a few thoughts.

A sampling from the subversives...

"Just have to say our waterproofs are performing very well!"
McIlroyRory

"That 1st tee is truly the most incredible experience ever, the buzz from the crowd shakes thru your body with so much electricity. I love it."
IanJamesPoulter

"Little bit of a damp morning so far!!!! Good energy in the European camp though. Decision at noon. No play before 1245. Bring on the sun."
Graeme_McDowell

"The team are buzzing, great start to the day. Lets get back out there & play some golf. Come on."
IanJamesPoulter

Eight Loopers Likely Spending Enjoyable Evening Running Hair Dryers On The Belding Bags

Or maybe they leave that to the Celtic Manor bagroom boys? Either way...

Rick Reilly noted it and I'm sure we'll hear more about the problems American players and caddies had with the retro Belding tour bags

The Sun Mountain rain suits the USA team played in Friday at the Ryder Cup were three exits past awful. But they weren't as bad as the Belding bags.

Update on Friday, October 1, 2010 at 08:48 PM by Geoff

**And I neglected to mention: forget about gloves and wallets getting wet. Just imagine how heavy a water-logged old-style tour bag gets.

Reason 491 Why Players Hate The Ryder Cup Opening Ceremonies**

Viral emails like this...anyone know where the photo came from and who took it? I'm sure it was an accident that the focus centered on the players instead of the performer! Of course Tiger is allowed.

Update on Friday, October 1, 2010 at 03:41 PM by Geoff

**Jay Busbee posts other incriminating images and, well, some players will have some 'splaining to do!

Honey, it was the angle. Honey, I was looking past her to you. Honey, look, every other guy was caught with the same look I gave!

"Blame it on the FedEx Cup!"

Bob Harig on the reason we're playing in October in Wales.

When Wales was awarded the Ryder Cup in 2001, the tournament was tentatively given traditional mid-September dates. But that changed when the PGA Tour's playoff series was instituted several years ago, and here we have the fallout.

Perhaps justice was served, as PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was outfitted with the faulty Team USA uniform -- "Finchem" stitched on the back -- and undoubtedly felt the full force of the deluge. (No word on if Finchem got new duds like the players.)

2008 Faldo Flashback: "See you at Celtic Manor in two years and remember to bring your waterproofs."

Oh how the archives can be so, so informative. From The Times:

"Well done USA, you had an excellent captain in Paul Azinger, a well thought out team and great rookie selections with your wild cards." He added: "See you at Celtic Manor in two years and remember to bring your waterproofs."

In May, the Wales Open was disrupted by heavy rain, and with the Ryder Cup due to be held from October 1-3 the weather may not match the scorching temperatures in Kentucky.

However, George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, responded quickly to Faldo's comments by defending the decision to hold the event in Wales.

"It's in a valley, it does rain and you've got to look at these things with a bit of humour," he said.

Yes, Nick's getting the last laugh isn't he?