40,000 fans are expected to attend each day of the forthcoming Ryder Cup match between Europe and the USA next month, and they will be subjected to unprecedented levels of security and scrutiny on entering the course. Amongst other things, they will be searched to make sure that nobody is carrying either a mobile phone or a camera - a move introduced following a number of unfortunate incidents at last month's Open Championship at Hoylake.
The use of camera phones and standard cameras caused numerous disturbances to the players at Hoylake, with the competitors and their caddies getting increasingly irate as the tournament progressed. Now the organisers of the Ryder Cup have moved to make sure that these episodes won't be repeated at the K Club in September.
"Mobile phones will be banned for all six days of the tournament, which includes the practice days, while cameras will be allowed on the practice days but not the match days," a European Tour spokesman said yesterday.
"This decision was taken to ensure that the matches take place without the risk of disturbance to the players following the numerous complaints we received throughout the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool last month."
Other measures taken ahead of the event include the closing of all roads within a five mile radius of the course - speactators will have to use specially designated park-and-ride services instead. They also face the prospect of being searched on entry and will be required to produce their passports for identification.
The competition runs for three days, from September 22-24. It is being held in Ireland for the first time.
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