skipper

In that same interview from last summer, she expressed uncertainty over whether she could eventually play under another skipper.

As the players and fans revelled in Rome, all demanding "two more years" for skipper Luke Donald, statisticians reached for the record books.

European skipper John Jacobs was also unimpressed, saying they turned up "dressed as though they were going on a camping holiday".

Both skippers are also unanimous in their desire for the week to end in harmony, though.

Knowing there is already a wealth of tinder, the skippers will not want sparks to fly - certainly until the contest finally gets under way on Friday morning.