Golf Central

So what’s it I hear about the lack of punters at the event?: It’s reportedly pitiful, with hardly 300 people on course by the close of Day 1, all while an estimated 80,000 people gathered 20 miles up the road in Tullamore for the National Ploughing Championships.
You're making it up…: No, for once, it’s the truth.
So what happened today?: Big fightback from Faldo’s boys to bring it back to five points each.
Who as the star of the show?: Probably Marc Warren.
Didn’t he and Monty receive a drubbing at the hands of the French connection?: Yes they did, but Warren had the excuse of having received half a dozen stitches after bringing a chandelier in his hotel room crashing down on him while practising his swing with a 5-iron.
Should have taken a 7: Very funny. 

Bradley  Dredge  & Phillip  Archer (GB & Ire)  v  Peter  Hanson  & Robert  Karlsson (Europe)
GB&I  win  5 & 4 
Colin  Montgomerie  & Marc  Warren (GB & Ire)  v  Raphaël  Jacquelin  & Gregory  Havret (Europe) 
Europe  win 5 & 3 
Oliver  Wilson  & Simon  Dyson (GB & Ire)  v  Thomas  Björn  & Søren  Hansen (Europe)   
GB & Ire  win 3&2 
Nick  Dougherty  & Graeme  Storm (GB & Ire)  v  Mikko  Ilonen  & Markus  Brier (Europe)   
Europe  win by 1 hole 
Justin  Rose  & Paul  Casey (GB & Ire)  v  Miguel Angel  Jiménez  & Gonzalo  Fdez-Castaño (Europe)  
GB & Ire  win by 1 hole 

So is this the tournament where all the Presidents play each other?: No, it isn't.
That's what the kid reading your news on your front page said: And he's seven-years-old doufus. It's where the US plays the rest of the world, apart from the bits called Europe, Britain and Ireland.
Another World Series then…: You could say that.
So what happened?: The US kicked the world's ass, that's what, winning five of the six opening foursome matches and getting a very honourable draw in the other. That's 51/2 to 1/2 in old money.
Ryder Cup revenge then…: Hardly, although the match between Woody Austin and Phil Mickelson versus Vijay Singh and Mike Weir was described as one of the greatest in the tournament's 23-year history. Only six of the 18 holes were halved and Mickelson conceded a tricky par putt at the behest of captain Jack Nicklaus to ensure a tie.
How did Tiger play?: His first drive popped up into the air and landed a measly 233 yards away. But after going 1-up on the 6th hole he and Charles Howell III maintained their superiority throughout.
Any other notables?: Jim Furyk now holds the longest unbeaten streak in the competition at seven matches.
Thanks for that nugget of information: You're very welcome.

Steve Stricker & Hunter Mahan (USA) vs Adam Scott & Geoff Ogilvy (Int)
USA win 3 & 2
Phil Mickelson & Woody Austin (USA) vs Vijay Singh (Int)
Match halved
Stewart Cink & Zach Johnson (USA) vs Rory Sabbatini & Trevor Immelman (Int)
USA win 1-up
David Toms & Jim Furyk (USA) vs Ernie Els & Angel Cabrera (Int)
USA win 1-up
Lucas Glover & Scott Verplank (USA) vs Stuart Appleby & Retief Goosen (Int)
USA win 2-up
Tiger Woods & Charles Howell III (USA) vs KJ Choi & Nick O'Hern (Int)
USA win 3 & 1

After taking a five point lead over the United States at Valderrama Golf Club in Spain, Europe withstood a mighty fightback from the US team to win consecutive Ryder Cup Matches on this day in 1997. It was the first Ryder Cup contested in continental Europe, with Seve Ballesteros at the helm and five rookies in the side including Thomas Björn, Darren Clarke, Ignacio Garrido, Jesper Parnevik and Lee Westwood.
Meanwhile, in 1964 The Warren Commission concluded there was no conspiracy surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy and that gunman Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Th
It’s grattis pŒ fšdelsedagen as they say in Stockholm to precocious teen siren Hilary Duff (20), acclaimed Brit/Aussie actor Naomi Watts (39) and uber pin-up actress and top feline protector Brigitte Bardot (73).

Make this quick, I’m watching Apocalypse Now: Lucky bleeder. “Charlie don’t surf” and all that… Although I did hear Francis Ford Coppola originally cast Robert Duvall as a golf-crazy Lieutenant who cleared entire villages with napalm so he could play pitch & putt.
Really?: No, I just made it up.
Aren't you clever. So what happened then?: Nobody went mental or got killed for a start. Europe did give the GB & Ireland team a gentle roughing up, though, going into Day Two with a 3-2 lead.
And the story was...?: Plenty of talk about ‘dovetailing nicely’, no mention of Paul McGinley and a nice birdie putt from Graeme ‘Quiet Before The’ Storm on 18 to make sure GB & Ireland stay in touch.
Can I ask a philosophical question?: If you must.
Why is it I don’t really care who wins?: Because you’re a true European, thanks to the glory of golf.
Either that or I’m too worried about whether Fiji will beat Wales on Saturday: Fair point…

Colin  Montgomerie  & Marc  Warren (GB & Ire)  v  Peter  Hanson  & Robert  Karlsson (Europe)
Europe win 3 & 1
Bradley  Dredge  & Phillip  Archer (GB & Ire)  v  Miguel Angel  Jiménez  & Gonzalo  Fdez-Castaño (Europe)    
GB & Ire win 2 & 1
Paul  Casey  & Simon  Dyson (GB & Ire)  v  Raphaël  Jacquelin  & Gregory  Havret (Europe)
Europe win 4 & 3
Nick  Dougherty  & Graeme  Storm (GB & Ire)  v  Thomas  Björn  & Søren  Hansen (Europe)
GB and Ire win by 1 hole
Justin  Rose  & Oliver  Wilson (GB & Ire)  v  Markus  Brier  & Mikko  Ilonen (Europe)     
Europe win 3 & 2