AN INVERNESSIAN IN AMERICA: 'I am still suffering from the Ryder Cup come-down. Wow, what a week!'

You know that feeling of utter exhaustion, yet if you could jump right back in and do it all over again, you would? That’s me right now. The Ryder Cup was one of the greatest weeks I’ve ever experienced, let alone the greatest week of work.

I was at Whistling Straits near Kohler, Wisconsin, with Ryder Cup Europe, hosting all their social media videos and access all areas series (you can see it all at rydercup.com). During the week, before play began on Friday, I got to do some pretty cool things – interview team stars like Ian Poulter, Shane Lowry and Bernd Wiesberger, recreate the walk to the first tee with team veteran, and vice-captain, Henrik Stenson, crash the official team photoshoot and, of course, talk to fans on-site. The most thrilling piece we filmed during the week, however, was the first tee build-up before the opening tee shots were struck.

The alarm was set for 3am and we were on the course by 5am. Pitch black, iPhone lights being shone from golf carts to lead the way to the first tee amphitheatre. We filmed some pieces to camera before gates opened at 6am, and swarms of fans sprinted to find a seat in the stand. It got loud really quickly.

I am still suffering from the Ryder Cup come-down. Wow, what a week!, writes Diane Knox.

By 6.30am, there wasn’t an empty spot to be found as the thousands of revellers belted out renditions of Sweet Caroline and the US national anthem.

Due to travel restrictions, the balance of support was 90 per cent on the side of the Americans, but at times it didn’t seem to matter. On that first tee, before the players made their way out of the tunnel, it was like one big rock concert… and it wasn’t even 7am! But as soon as Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia emerged from the darkness onto the lush, perfect tee of the opening hole, the boos began, swiftly followed by screams, whoops and cheers as Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas appeared.

The over-the-top fancy dress outfits, a sea of red, white and blue with stars and stripes everywhere you looked, the noise was deafening and the atmosphere was incredible. I had never experienced anything like it, and the sun rose right as the 43rd Ryder Cup got under way.

Skipping ahead a few days, the Americans, captained by Steve Stricker, reclaimed the cup from the Europeans. We were simply out-talented; with eight of the world’s top 10 on the US side, they were unbeatable and put on a stunning display of golf.

With the next go-around in 2023 in Rome, Europe will more than likely lose some of the experienced players, so the new wave of Europeans superstars better do their best to emerge and rise to the occasion because this young, energetic, powerful US team aren’t going anywhere but up.

My amazing week summed up? A man approached me on Sunday afternoon. He said: “I’ve been watching you work all week, and you haven’t stopped smiling for a second, and you’re getting paid to be here!” I replied: “I’d do it for free.” And I would.

My first Ryder Cup experience is something I’ll never forget, and I hope to be doing it all again in a couple of years.

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