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Most of the players are on the nearby range, flying balls into the pale blue Kentucky sky. nods his head and sings along to the music coming from his earphones.

European captain Nick Faldo arrives on the tee and the visiting supporters burst into choruses of "Europe, Europe". A lone Scottish voice pipes up, "Nick, I'll have a cheese sandwich," a gag in reference to the .

The European hordes then serenade their leader with that old classic "Walking in a Faldo Wonderland". At the end the skipper punches the air in salute.

The buzz is building but it's far from a bear pit atmosphere and in between the songs are periods of quiet, just murmurs on the breeze. The calm before the storm, perhaps.

Getting their breath back, the Euro visionaries taunt the American fans with the moving

is the first player to make for the tee ahead of the 0805 starting time. He is greeted by thunderous applause, whistling and cheering from the Kentucky faithful.

Europeans and arrive next, with Mickelson's partner some way behind.

The players are all in white, but with a diamond motif for the US and stripes for the Europeans. They all shake hands and pose for a team picture to the background music of fans trading their default (and in one case, only) chants - "USA, USA, USA" and "Europe, Europe, Europe."

Harrington is introduced as "Harrisden" but he ignores it and wastes no time bashing one up the middle. Mickelson follows for the Americans and .

The Europeans march off stride for side, not saying much. The US pair give each other a low five. The exuberant young Kim is all smiles and claps the crowd.

Faldo revs up his golf cart, sticks out his chin and hares up the fairway behind them, accompanied by son Matthew. US captain Paul Azinger stays on the tee, his trusty "US One" buggy redundant.

The din subsides as fans watch , and on the adjacent practice chipping area, while is still on the putting green over the footbridge.

A European roar punctuates the calm. A Scotsman called Jim listening to the on-course radio tells those around him that Harrington has holed a birdie putt to win the 1st.

Cue a round of "Ole".

"The crowd will be quiet before the last match even starts," says Jim. "Brilliant."

Faldo zips back to the tee in time to see the next match off and then repeats his Lewis Hamilton impression up the 1st.

The 15-minute gap between tee times gives the fans a chance to regroup. But soon enough Poulter gets the nod. The Englishman removes his headphones and gives pal a hearty handshake as they head for the tee.

The European crowd pipe up with a song that goes, "Su-per, super Poults, Su-per, super Poults, Su-per, super Poults, super Ian Poulter." They then chant "Gooner, Gooner" in reference to .

Rose gets them under way before steps up for America. But his wayward tee shot is greeted with muted "oohs".

Poulter may have been but he has become a firm favourite at Valhalla this week and he's urged on his way up the 1st.

Back on the adjacent chipping green, works alone. His partner and Americans and all have a last putt.

Garcia throws some balls into the thicker rough and splashes them out, aiming for a bucket.

"Come on Zinger, get them going buddy," urges an American voice.

Moving to the chipping green, holes his first shot.

The Kentuckian is treated to a variation on the US standard, with the words "Kenny Perry" replacing "USA". The Europeans just laugh.

On the tee, Garcia receives a few heckles. "It's going to be a long day, Sergio."

Faldo Mansell roars back.

Perry is introduced to the crowd, sparking the biggest cheer of the morning. Westwood and Furyk tee off and the 37th Ryder Cup is truly under way.