But Faldo's pick of Ian Poulter was inspired. He was let down by his so-called stars, players like Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington who failed to win a match between them.

The Ryder Cup is the world's greatest sporting event when Europe wins. When the USA win it's the most irritating as no decent human being could enjoy the ignorant chanting and triumphalism of 50,000 Americans.

Golf is a strange sport insomuch as it's played pretty well by fat blokes. With all that walking, you'd think the majority of players would have physiques like real athletes and yet half the American team have man boobs.



I FELT queasy when I heard Muhammed Ali was to be wheeled out at the Ryder Cup.

One of the world's greatest sportsmen is a shambling wreck because of illness. Can't he be left in peace rather than paraded in front of millions of people who will just feel sorry for him rather than remember him for his greatness?



IT wasn't a good day for British sport as relegation from the Davis Cup at the hands of Austria, that nation of tennis giants, preceded the Ryder Cup rout.

I have started to understand why Andy Murray puts his own career ahead of playing for GB now. It must be soul destroying knowing that his own 100 per cent record would be undermined by the sheer uselessness of his team-mates.

Great Britain skipper John Lloyd deserves far more stick than Faldo as it was his decision to select serial loser Alex Bogdanavic to play in two singles matches.

Lloyd should have picked Wimbledon hero Chris Eaton to play back-up singles and persuaded Murray to play doubles on his own.



ANOTHER reason why footballers believe they are Gods arrived with the ridiculous reception afforded to Cristiano Ronaldo on his first appearance of the season at Old Trafford last week.

If Ronaldo had been granted his wish he would have been with Real Madrid rather than United in the Champions League.

The world's most arrogant footballer spent all summer trying to leave the club that turned him into a world-class talent.

But instead of receiving the rough ride from offended fans that he deserved, the United fans gave Ronaldo a standing ovation.

Many footballers are thick, but not half as thick as many fans.



IT was a great Premier League point for United at Chelsea on Sunday though, especially as they played for 90 minutes with 10 men.

Sir Alex Ferguson is not known for tolerating shirkers. His most skillful players Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo also understand the need to work hard, or at least run around a bit.

Dimitar Berbatov's move to United is therefore rather puzzling. He'll probably score plenty against the dross, but at Stamford Bridge he was a statue.