MY RYDER CUP HIGHS AND LOWS

FIRST TEE

THE first tee on Friday morning is always special. This one produced the best couple of minutes I can recall. By the dawn’s early light, a few spectators had begun an a capella version of the American national anthem, and were quickly joined by the lucky 3,000 more who had seats. It was in tune and, with the sun rising in the background over Lake Michigan, very affecting.

LAMBEAU FIELD

A REAL sporting bucket list moment going to see the Green Bay Packers play. For a lad from Liverpool, the similarities with another football team who represent the beating heart of a city was striking. Not sure about the aluminium bench seating, mind. Imagine sitting there in December when the temperature is comfortably in the minus double digits?

JON RAHM (right)

IT SAYS everything about his impact over the first two days that even the Americans applauded him on to the first tee for the singles. It was like watching Seve reincarnated. Impervious to the crowd and using the snub for PGA Tour player of the year to show he’s head and shoulders above the rest.

FIRST TEE BOOING

A NEW tradition and let’s nip it in the bud right now. It was disappointing Steve Stricker didn’t come on to the first tee and appeal to the fans; Lee Westwood needs to make a quiet mental note before his captaincy stint in Rome. That said, the European fans wouldn’t boo the opposition, would they?

UGLY BEHAVIOUR

JUSTIN THOMAS is a much nicer bloke than the nutter who joined Daniel Berger on the first tee and handed out beers to the crowd. As for Brooks Koepka’s hounding of two referees, it should be written into the captain’s agreement that such behaviour constitutes a loss of the hole.

CONCESSION SPATS

WHY do we have to have histrionics when a short putt is not conceded? Why not knock it in, take your grievance to the next tee and smash it miles down the middle? I like Dustin Johnson’s attitude. He gave every putt under 4ft — and after two days was the only player with four points out of four.