Ryder Cup Diary Koepka’s Kenya scare

Bjorn on Brexit – or not?

Thomas Bjorn, the Europe captain, appeared to reference Brexit turmoil in his speech at the opening ceremony. “This great continent can at times be a fragmented place but when it comes to the Ryder Cup it stands as one,” he said. However, he denied the comments were anything to do with Britain’s current difficulties.

Three-time major winner Brooks Koepka has revealed he feared for his life after getting lost in Kenya while on the Challenge Tour. In 2013, the 28-year-old was competing on the second-tier tour – where he won three times to earn promotion to the European Tour – when he endured a scary experience after getting in a Nairobi taxi. “I thought the guy was going to kill us,” he said. “He took us on a joyride, a bunch of guys hopped out of the gas station, tried to get in the car.”

Rory’s extra helper

Rory Mcilroy was spotted on the greens taking tips from his former coach Pete Cowen but a reunion is apparently not on the cards. Michael Bannon, Mcilroy’s normal coach, is expected to be back with him today.

Hair-raising Woods

Tiger Woods was teased over his receding hairline by team-mate Justin Thomas, who placed a divot of grass on his thinning thatch during the final practice round. Fortunately, Woods appeared to see the funny side.

From buggy to birdies

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen has gone from Thomas Bjorn’s buggy driver at Hazeltine to one of his rookies in just two years. “It’s the toughest job I ever had, ” the Dane said of his driving job. “Driving Thomas’s buggy was difficult. He was very demanding, so I was running around.”