It was sad that the highlights of my day on the course were seeing the best player in the world performing no better than me and spotting an ex-President. The golf just wasn’t that entertaining. Once the Europeans had completed their 18 ½ to 9 ½ drubbing of the Americans it was time to party, at least for the Europeans. I watched from near 16 green when Darren Clarke had his emotional response to winning. Everyone in the crowd felt for him and at that moment he was the most loved man at the K club. A few minutes later I watched Ian Woosnam and Darren Clarke each polished off a pint (20 Oz’s) of Guinness on the clubhouse balcony to the delight of the crowd.

The closing ceremony was tolerable but I am getting sick of every event I ever attend being dubbed the best ever by the organizers. The whole thing is so self serving that I am turned off by the speeches. Just thank everyone for their hard work and call it a success, let other people tell you it was the best ever don’t declare it for yourself it is so tacky.

After the formal closing ceremony the party really started at the tented village. Beer was plentiful and we befriended a couple of leprechauns that worked at the beer tent who provided us with free drinks all night. There was a band playing live in the center of everything with people having a very good time all around them. The crowd was very well behaved considering the quantity of booze involved and there were no incidents that I saw requiring the police to step in. At one point all the European caddies paraded through the party much to the delight of the crowd but the highlight was when some of the players joined in the festivities. The only one I can confirm seeing myself was David Howell but I have heard there were others floating around.

When I saw David Howell drinking in the beer tent with everyone I couldn’t help but draw a comparison between the US players and the Europeans. There is not a chance in hell that you would find a single US player coming out of the secure clubhouse to celebrate with the paying public. The Europeans are much more of the people than their US counterparts, perhaps more social and down to earth. I wonder whether it is this difference that allows the Europeans to form a strong team culture while the US struggles to blend individuals into one unit.

The night was enjoyable and the Irish proved that they know how to throw a party.