Ryder Cup: Twitter not really banned for European players
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Hours after a so-called Twitter ban was announced by Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie of Europe and Corey Pavin of the U.S. on Monday, European team member Ian Poulter was tweeting once again.
Poulter, who has more than a million followers, tweeted: ‘For the record Colin hasn’t banned twitter, he has asked to be respectful to the teams privacy. I played 7 holes today course is awesome.’
Montgomerie told reporters the same thing after Tuesday’s first official team practice.
“Tweeting has not been banned,” said Montgomerie, who claims to have never used Twitter. “Whatever they do [in the posts], whatever they are, respect is shown for what is said within the team room. That’s what I have banned. They can do whatever they have to do elsewhere regarding their thoughts.”
Nobody from the U.S. team -- including Stewart Cink, who has even more followers than Poulter -- has tweeted since arriving in Wales.
In actual golf-related news, Tuesday’s practice round may have provided some hints to the pairings for when the tournament starts with Friday’s fourball matches. Tiger Woods was paired with Hunter Mahan, although Steve Stricker was also in their group, paired with Zach Johnson. Woods and Stricker paired to go four for four at the President’s Cup last year.
Other U.S. pairings Tuesday: Matt Kuchar/Cink, Jim Furyk/Jeff Overton, Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson/Bubba Watson.
For the European team, partners Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were grouped with brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were in a group with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson. Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Padraig Harrington and Poulter were in the final group.
-- Chuck Schilken
Top photo: Luke Donald, left, vice-captain Paul McGinley, Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter of the European team. Credit: Glyn Kirk / AFP/Getty Images
