"All of this conviviality and pleasantness simply can’t go on."

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Phillip Reid files an entertaining story on Monday's U.S. team arrival and Monty/Pavin press conference.

All of this conviviality and pleasantness simply can’t go on. Colin Montgomerie, the Europe captain, and Corey Pavin, his equivalent on the US team who are defending the Ryder Cup, were singing off the same hymn sheet as a palsy-walsy act yesterday kick-started the build-up to the match here at Celtic Manor resort on the outskirts of Newport. At one point, Pavin even leaned across to rescue a stray hair from Monty’s shoulder.

So much for those memories of Pavin with a camouflage hat from the “War on the Shore” at Kiawah Island back in 1991. At this rate, we could have a love-in of mutual respect; let’s hope it is all a “phoney war” before the real thing, for the Ryder Cup – of all events – needs passion.

Yesterday, Team USA – with a number of players descending the plane at Cardiff Airport wearing sunglasses despite the grey, overcast skies – flew in with the world rankings telling us that four of the team are ranked in the top-five of the latest world rankings and some bookmakers already paying out on a Europe win. Go figure that!

"I was hardly going to set up to a US Tour set-up."

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In an unbylined Irish Times piece, Monty is quoted this way about the Celtic Manor setup:

However, when asked if the course was set up as for a standard European Tour event, Montgomerie admitted: "Hence to our advantage, if it is a European Tour set-up. I was hardly going to set up to a US Tour set-up.

Soft, green and rough lined fairways does scream European! We sure don't have golf like that here!

Poulter: No Ban On Tweets!

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Hey, I just screen capture these things but he is contradicting his Captain, and it's only Monday.


So no Tweets about your team knickname's for Monty this week? Ahhh...bummer!

James Corrigan writes that Poulter was busy Tweeting Sunday, including several items on a bogus fire alarm going off, but filed his story before the above message went out:

Although those such as Poulter have entered arguments with supporters on Twitter before, as individual sportsmen they have not been silenced. Poulter fired off a dozen or so tweets as soon as he was the first player to check in at Celtic Manor on Sunday and has long raved about the social website as a "brilliant way to keep the fans informed". How he will feel about the blackout is unclear.

Meanwhile, David Dusek says Corey Pavin's Twitter ban is a big mistake.

Clarifying Your Ryder Cup Viewing Times And Options**

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There's way too much confusion about when you can watch the Ryder Cup, so here goes with my best shot based on press releases and confirming emails (really bodes well for the viewing public, don't you think?). I've also included Golf Channel's key shows.

Tuesday

Golf Channel 12-3 ET (News Conferences)


Wednesday

Golf Channel 12-3 p.m ET (News Conferences)

Thursday

6-8 p.m ET (Pre-game)

Friday

ESPN  LIVE! 2:30 a.m. ET sign on (11:30 Pacific Thursday).

golf.com/PGA.com  
2:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET live coverage of holes 2, 6, 12 and 17

Golf Channel Postgame show  1-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m ET

Saturday

NBC: 8 am-6 pm ET, 5 am-3 pm PT (tape)

golf.com/PGA.com  
2:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET live coverage of holes 2, 6, 12 and 17

Golf Channel Postgame show  6-8 p.m ET

Sunday

golf.com/PGA.com Sunday
 6:30 a.m. to end of matches, live coverage of holes 2, 6, 12 and 17

NBC   7 am - 1pm ET, 4 am - 10 am PT (live)

Golf Channel Postgame show  1-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m ET

Pavin Overcomes Private Charter Jet Lag To Engage Monty In Witty Repartee

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You just can't get this kind of banter these days anywhere but in Ryder Cup captaindom.

Q. There were some quotes from you today saying that perhaps you would not have picked Tiger Woods on your team; is there a danger that those quotes might stoke up the Americans a bit more?

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: I don't know where that came from. I never spoke to any press yesterday, and I don't know where that came from. I've always said that  I've always said that Tiger, the best player in the world, and in my opinion, the best player who has ever played the game. Of course he would be on my team. I said that at the US PGA.

COREY PAVIN: He actually recommended to me.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Yes, I recommended to Corey to pick him.

COREY PAVIN: I was following his recommendation.