European captain Colin Montgomerie has decided to ban his players from using the twitter website during the Ryder Cup.
The twitter decision means that Ian Poulter's million followers on Twitter will have to make do without his many thoughts on the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor this week. US captain Corey Pavin has also banned twitter meaning all 24 players having been told to focus on the match instead.
<notforsyndication>RTÉ Sport’s Greg Allen has NOT been banned from tweeting – follow his updates from Celtic Manor at www.twitter.com/gregallenRTE (external link). </notforsyndication>
You can also follow live tracking of the Ryder Cup by Brendan Cole and Ed Leahy on the RTÉ.ie/Sport website from Friday morning until close of play on Sunday.
Montgomerie said today that a recent controversy involving England cricket star Kevin Pietersen had prompted the move by himself and opposite number Corey Pavin.
Pietersen was fined for reacting angrily to being left out of the one day and Twenty20 squads and later issued an apology for his language.
Montgomerie said: ‘I've just asked my team not to and they have said 'OK - that's fine, we'll start again tweetering or twittering, having never done it, on Monday, October 4. Kevin Pietersen's error changed my view as to that.’
Not that Montgomerie intends to police things to make sure nobody steps out of line.
‘It's not a ban because if somebody does it how can you punish someone for it? It's not a ban. I'm not mentioning any names. I don't know who Tweets or who doesn't Tweet on our team, so I can't tell you.
‘The captain doesn't and whoever does has been asked not to.’
United States captain Pavin, who arrived with his side in Cardiff in mid-morning after an overnight flight from Atlanta, commented: ‘I think we talked about it as a team and we thought it best not to do it. We need to focus on playing and working on preparations and getting ready to play the Ryder Cup.
‘As Colin said, Team USA, whatever they would like to do, Tweeting or Facebooking or whatever it may be, they have the opportunity to do that next week - and for the rest of their lives!’
Last year's Open champion Stewart Cink, one of Pavin's four wildcards, is the chief tweeter in the American line-up.
He told his 1,201,022 followers from Atlanta: ‘We're finally off to Wales!! Won't be tweeting until we get back. I guess I'll have to pass the down time actually reading or something.’
On arrival at the Celtic Manor Resort, however, he risked another message. ‘Okay I lied. Go USA y'all pull hard for us thanks!!! See you in a week!’
The two sides start official practice on the Twenty Ten course - specially built for the match - tomorrow morning at 8.30am.
Tiger Woods, who needed a captain's pick for the first time, is expected to fall into line and not go out before the rest - his normal routine at tournaments.
Woods was criticised at The Belfry in 2002 for doing his own thing.
Pavin stated: ‘We are going to be teeing off Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning. I've given the guys the option to play nine holes only if they wish on Thursday and prepare as best they can for Friday.
‘Otherwise, unless somebody is sick or not feeling well, they will be out on the golf course on Tuesday and Wednesday.’
Because of the course lay-out Europe will actually be starting on the 11th hole so that both sides can get going at the same time and not run into each other.
There will be much read, of course, into who plays with whom.
Montgomerie revealed last week that his team already knows his plans for Friday's opening fourballs - and that the four left out of that session will play in the afternoon foursomes.
Woods said on his website on Friday: ‘I'm not sure who I will play with - it keeps changing.’
He and Steve Stricker won all their four games together at the Presidents Cup last year, but Pavin was not giving anything away.
‘I have a very good idea of what we're going to do,’ he remarked.
‘We've talked about it quite a bit and the players have an idea of the direction that I'm going to go, but there's no reason for me, as far as I'm concerned, to discuss it too much until actually I write the pairings down on paper and turn them in.’
That is before the opening ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
Montgomerie is not downplaying what is riding on the outcome as Europe try to win back the trophy.
‘Strange in many ways - biggest event in my golfing career and I've come here with no clubs,’ he said.
‘First time I've arrived with no clubs, I assure you. I'm here on behalf of the European Tour - we run The Ryder Cup now and we are very proud of what we have put together here.
‘So it's not my success, it's not anyone else's success, it's the European Tour's success if this result goes our way on Sunday. All I'm doing is managing a team on behalf of the European Tour this particular week.’
For all the positive words coming out about Lee Westwood's recovery from his torn calf muscle - he last played on August 6 - there will be fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong in practice.
Until the opening ceremony an injured or ill player can be replaced, but with Paul Casey mountain biking in Canada he does not appear to be in the ideal standby position.
‘Can't be me," said Montgomerie.
‘I can't say who it would be. I would have to go back to my vice captains and we would discuss the situation.’
The Twitter 'ban' appeared to be slow in taking effect.
Ulster’s Graeme McDowell, a somewhat irregular contributor with 16,533 followers, said in late afternoon: ‘We have a team meeting at 6, so will keep you posted on the tweeting ban ... let's hope not!!!! Go Europe!!!!’
