Martin Dempster on golf: Let's have 'Pep Rally'

IT'S just been announced the traditional gala dinner in Ryder Cup week is to be replaced by a "Welcome to Wales" concert at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Some players, Tiger Woods being one of them, complain there are too many functions before the biennial match and you certainly can't imagine the likes of Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer getting too excited about the prospect of spending a night at what is being described as "a unique multi-artist concert". In the grand scheme of things, these events have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the match but I'd certainly like to see Colin Montgomerie repeat something that Paul Azinger did in 2008.

On the eve of the match at Valhalla, US captain Azinger and all his players appeared at a 'Pep Rally' in downtown Louisville, sparking a wave of support for the home team that was certainly evident as they won that encounter.