Eddie Jordan was among friends and family who flew into Boston yesterday, courtesy of Darren Clarke. The Formula One team owner, who is among a large contingent of Irish bound for next weekend's Ryder Cup at Brookline, was joined on the flight from Dublin by Clarke's manager Andrew Chandler.

As the leading Irishman in the Smurfit European Open for the last two years, Clarke earned £20,000 worth of flights from Aer Lingus. "I can't think of a better time to cash them in," said the Tyroneman, who, with his wife Heather, flew to Boston with the official European party on Concorde yesterday.

The Harrington household in Rathfarnham, Dublin, was also a hive of activity preparing for the big event. But Padraig's father, Paddy, had another sporting priority. "Obviously next Sunday's All-Ireland final is very special to me," said the former player who was a member of beaten Cork teams in the finals of 1956 (against Galway) and 1957 (against Louth).

Paddy Harrington went on: "Through the wonders of modern communications and the help of Bob Kennefick from Murphy's Brewery, I hope to be watching the All-Ireland live on a screen in Boston next Sunday morning. By my calculations, it should be over before the 12 Ryder Cup singles get under way."

Of course Padraig Harrington has been in the US for the past week, competing in the BC Open in which he carded an admirable nine-under-par aggregate to claim a share of 12th place on Sunday. It left him easily the most successful of the current Ryder Cup players in action.

Team colleagues Clarke, Andrew Coltart and Lee Westwood are all with Chandler's International Sports Management. And there was a certain sadness for Coltart yesterday in that he had to leave behind his wife Emma and their baby daughter Bonnie, who was born on Saturday last.

Meanwhile, on arrival in Boston, the emphasis from the European team management was on relaxation. And assistant captain, Ken Brown, stood four-square behind Mark James in the captain's decision to turn down a dinner invitation from Ben Crenshaw and the American team last night.

"For rookies in particular, there is a danger of over-doing things, including excessive practising," said Brown. "It is a very exciting week and we have to guard against players tiring themselves out before the weekend. Friday and Saturday are the most demanding two days they are ever likely to face in golf."

James agreed that the focus had to be on performing well: "I don't particularly like attention but it won't bother me. I'm a very positive person, even though I might not always look it on the course, and I have faith in my team. I'm convinced we'll do well enough to win."

According to British newspaper reports over the weekend, James has already formulated in his mind six of the eight players who will compete in the opening foursomes on Friday morning. They are: Colin Montgomerie, Jesper Parnevik, Westwood, Clarke, Jose-Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia. He may change things as the week progresses, however, in the light of Harrington's fine form and the indifferent recent play of Olazabal.

Indeed James may even heed the plea of Jean Van de Velde who insisted: "I want to play in the maximum five matches."

Just the sort of up-beat spirit to stir his colleagues.