Trophy time will fall flat

THE European Tour have not learned from previous Ryder Cups when it comes to the timing of Sunday’s closing ceremony and the trophy presentation. Far better if the Cup was presented on the 18th green soon after the final match, especially as it is such a spectacular amphitheatre for tens of thousands to watch and the atmosphere would be red-hot. Instead, the trophy presentation will remain at the closing ceremony when the mood is slightly manufactured.

And by the time the winners’ press conference is staged an hour later, the players are only interested in celebrating, not talking to the media.

SKY GOLF’S major tournament anchor David Livingstone retires after the Ryder Cup, with former player Nick Dougherty favourite to succeed him. Meanwhile, it doesn’t say much for the 2019 European Tour that even their Abu Dhabi championship attraction in January will not have Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose or even Ryder Cup rookie Tyrrell Hatton in attendance because of more lucrative options on the US circuit.

THE £2.7m-plus package the European Tour are paying under-performing chief executive Keith Pelley isn’t the end of the extravagance under David Williams. Guy Kinnings was appointed deputy CEO to Pelley last May, as well as Ryder Cup director in succession to Richard Hills. He would have needed a seven-figure offer to tempt him from being a senior vice-president and chairman of golf at IMG to join the European Tour — as well as thecertainty of succeeding Pelley.