European Ryder Cup squad pay tribute to Spain's Barquin

SAINT-QUENTIN-ENYVELINES, France: Europe's Ryder Cup team will wear yellow ribbons this week to honour Spanish golfer Celia Barquin, a 22-year-old college champion who was stabbed to death last week in America, captain Thomas Bjorn said Tuesday.

Upon each ribbon was written in red the name of Barquin, who died in Ames, Iowa, where she was named Iowa State University female athlete of the year after winning the Big 12 Conference golf title.

The ribbon and inscription used the colours of the Spanish flag as a mark of respect for a player who appeared set to join the LPGA Tour and who was killed while playing golf. A homeless man, Colin Richards, has been charged with her murder.

Among those who paid tribute to Barquin last week were Spanish Ryder Cup team members Sergio Garcia, last year's Masters winner, and Jon Rahm.

"The golfing family extends way beyond what we are trying to do this week," Bjorn said. "Those events in America with Celia being killed playing golf, is something that has hit everybody in the golf family, and obviously our two Spanish players very much."

Europe's Ryder Cup team contacted Miriam Barquin, Celia's mother, to express support for the family. Miriam Barquin said she was "proud and humbled" by the gesture, according to a team statement, mentioning she and her daughter talked about the Ryder Cup in their final conversation.

"We felt that, after a conversation between Ryder Cup Europe with Celia's mother, we would honour her this week," Bjorn said.

"That's what we are doing, and it's nothing about us, but it's just more about the fact that the golfing family gets touched by these things all over the world. It's terrible when things like this happen.” - AFP