No flights of fancy for bunkered Faldo

Things can only get better, not just for the American team - who flew into Malaga airport on Concorde last night, minus their caddies who were relegated to an economy flight on a scheduled airline - but also for Nick Faldo, who certainly wasn't given VIP treatment on his way to Valderrama for this week's Ryder Cup match.

While most of Europe's team arrived in dribs and drabs yesterday, Faldo decided to get a head start on the posse by arriving in Spain on Sunday evening. However, the Englishman, who will make a record 11th appearance in the match, was effectively "bunkered" in his plans, and had to endure a five-hour delay in London.

Upon arrival in Heathrow, for starters, Faldo discovered Iberia, the official airline for the European team, weren't making any allowances for anyone, even a player expected to play a crucial part in proceedings. "The other passengers have paid just as much money," remarked an airline official, apparently. He had to queue in line for half an hour, not only with holiday makers, but with supporters making an early exodus.

Worse was to follow. Faldo, travelling with his partner Brenna, was then informed that the flight was "delayed for two hours", which developed into a four-hour wait in the terminal and it was a somewhat frazzled and frustrated Faldo who finally landed in Spain for golf's greatest showpiece.

Still, the 40-year-old at least managed to get in a few practice holes yesterday to get it all out of his system. Faldo played the front nine, under the watchful eye of caddie Fanny Sunesson, and remarked: "The course is lovely, really lovely. But, then, why wouldn't it be? I believe nobody has been allowed out on the course for almost a month. I felt the need to play a few holes so that I could try to loosen up," said Faldo, who then spent a considerable time on the driving range. Meanwhile, the American team enjoyed a supersonic flight to the south of Spain on Concorde, arriving last night, where they were met by European captain Seve Ballesteros, offering a warm welcome and anxious that there would be no repeat of the infamous "War on the Shore" at Kiawah Island in 1991.

Although the Miguel-Angel Martin affair cast a cloud over Europe's build-up to the encounter, the shoe was on the other foot as the US team touched down with a couple of separate incidents threatening to undermine their final preparations; one concerning the absence of Tiger Woods's father, Earl, from the travelling party, and the other surrounding the team's caddies who weren't allowed on the flight.

Earl Woods sought the right to be given the same status on the US team as the various players' wives and girlfriends, similar to the way Jose-Maria Olazabal's mother was allowed to be a part of the official European team that played in the Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village, Ohio, in 1987.

However, the PGA of America refused the request, instead offering him tickets to attend the match as a guest. The result is that Tiger's father has not travelled. Instead, he will watch the match on TV in California.

Was the decision racist? "No, I don't think so," replied Earl. "It was just plain bad handling, poor administration, on the part of the PGA of America. Tiger's just 21-yearsold and doesn't have a girlfriend. In the circumstances, I felt it was a plausible request to make to accompany him.

"I can unequivocally state that I'm more responsible for Tiger being where he is today and have made a bigger contribution to the team than the wives and girlfriends combined." Earl has decided to stay away "in protest at the way they treat the parents. It makes no sense and is not justified" he said.

The other perceived slight by the PGA of America has been inflicted on the team's caddies. Andy Martinez, the experienced bagman for former British Open champion Tom Lehman, complained the organisation has "no concern for the caddies. We're the last people they think of".

Martinez and his fellow US caddies were told to travel on a standard plane rather than Concorde so that their seats could be sold to VIP team supporters who forked out $20,000 apiece to "Fly with Tiger to the Ryder Cup". Speaking on behalf of his fellow caddies, Martinez asked: "Why couldn't they keep 12 seats for us rather selling them for profit? In some way, I'd have liked to have taken my name out of the whole deal, but I didn't because it is a really big tournament for Tom. Caddies have no motivation except the motivation of their players."

Be that as it may, the American players flew in with just one task in mind, to retrieve a trophy they lost to Europe two years ago. The countdown is most definitely on, and all 24 players - from both sides - will start mixing and matching in foursomes and four-ball practice today in a bid to decipher the best pairings.