Calla out!

With just a week to go before the 2007 event gets underway, today brought the shock news of the withdrawal of North’s Steve Callaghan, who has historically been not only the event’s leading point scorer but also a formidable psychological weapon in the Ryder Cup rivalry.

North captain Trevor Hooley remained stoic whilst announcing the news – and naming Ryder Cup rookie, Jimmy Curley as replacement – but this turn of events must surely be a blow to his team’s confidence and perhaps also to their hopes of scoring back to back successes.

The official reason given for Callaghan’s withdrawal is an arm injury but this did not prevent pundits from wondering whether it was not completely unconnected with the recent decision of the handicap committee that he should play off 24, rather than the generous 28 of previous years.

South captain David Bell expressed regret that arch-competitor Callaghan would not be taking part and hoped that he would nonetheless be present at The Swallow to encourage his erstwhile team-mates.