K Club reopens doors

The K Club has reopened it's doors to the 45,000 spectators expected for today's second day of practice at the Ryder Cup after a delay of almost three hours due to high winds.

This morning's practice sessions for the American and European teams were suspended as winds of up to 60kph buffeted the Co Kildare venue. Fans waiting to gain access were forced to wait at the gates while thousands more were stranded in park and ride facilities as shuttle busses stopped ferrying people to the course.

Having reassessed the situation, organisers are now confident that play will get underway shortly after 11am and the high winds pose no immediate threat to safety.

"The Ryder Cup site was deemed unsafe under the cover of darkness at 6.30am and with winds gusting to more than 40mph (60kph)," officials explained. "All structures have subsequently been checked and loose impediments such as screens, fencing and flags secured.

"The weather forecast at 9am 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 10am.

"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."

European captain Ian Woosnam yesterday voiced the concern that the first Ryder Cup in Ireland could be halted by bad weather.

"I think what we've got to worry about is will we be able to play the golf course," said Woosnam on hearing the tail-end of Hurricane Gordon in the Atlantic could be heading towards the K Club.

Tournament director David Garland said the situation was being constantly monitored and discussions were to be held with Woosnam and American captain Tom Lehman over whether preferred lies - lift, clean and place as it is also known - will be in operation because of the amount of mud the ball is picking up.

"We're out monitoring things and will keep doing that daily," stated Garland, the European Tour's director of operations. "We never want to have placing of the ball, but sometimes you just have to."