Monty Installs Padded, Sound-Proof Room

...so that no one can hear what's going on. In the team room! At Celtic Manor.

Derek Lawrenson with the exclusive details on Captain Monty's sound-proofing venture for the room next to the American team room.

With emotions likely to be running high at what is expected to be a closely-fought contest in a fortnight’s time, the Scot is taking no chances that the Americans might hear something they could use to their advantage.

Monty will be flanked by three equally passionate vice-captains in Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, and their thoughts could well have a key influence on the men they lead, given Europe’s team contains six debutants.

They also know far more about the course than their American counterparts and, clearly, the last thing Monty wants is for their conversation to stray into the neighbouring room.

At the last Ryder Cup, some Americans were said to be buoyed by the noise emerging from the European team room, where captain Sir Nick Faldo had installed a drum kit, while DJ Spoony did his thing.

Oh that was a big help.