Ryder Cup - Live!

8am Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, dressed in accountant grey-and-white check, make their way to the first tee. A minute or two later, they are joined by Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie, who are sporting a lime green look. Furyk's tee shot is a cracker ... but Tiger sends his three-wood into the water. Incredible start! "They look like a bunch of geography teachers who have been Trinny and Susannah'ed, but is there a collective noun for golfers?" asks Gary Naylor. "Given the weather today and the USA's legendar inability to leave their differences aside, perhaps 'a shower'?"

Weather The rain and wind have died away for now, although showers and 20mph gusts are expected later in the day. Meanwhile Derrick Logan emails in with a prediction: "Europe to win by at least three points. Four reasons: JJ Henry, Brett Wetteruch, Zack Johnson and Vaughan Taylor." Anyone else?

Prediction time The Europeans start as strong favourites: they're 9-10 on Betfair, with America a shade under 6-4 and the draw at 12-1. At those prices, I think American team are value - Tiger Woods looks up for it, for a change, and during the past week Tom Lehmann has turned a collection of prima-donnas into something approaching a team. There are plenty at Guardian Unlimited who disagree with me, mind.

Preamble Good morning and welcome to Guardian Unlimited's coverage of day one of the 36th Ryder Cup at the K Club (writes shot-by-shot hack from his Farringdon bunker). For the last few days, the tail end of Hurricane Gordon has lashed and thrashed at County Kildare like a cat o' nine tails - indeed, there were plenty of trees decapitated last night. This morning, however, the wind has dropped and conditions are set fair.