Wily Americans would appear to have it in the bag

Colin Byrne Caddie's roleWhat's in a bag? Well, with 14 clubs and some other golfing essentials the bag simply used to fill a functional role. Not these days, particularly at the biggest golfing team event in the world.

There have been many players who have tried to distinguish themselves through their hair styles or the cut of their trousers. With Ian Poulter not making the European side this year the English trend-setter seems to have passed on his dress sense to the European fashion house.

In fact Poulter set a new trend this year at the US Open when he selected a different bag for each day of competition to compliment his daily outfit. A crowd-inciting pink bag was proposed for the final day, as if the New York mob needed any encouragement to pass comment. Not even the style-conscious ladies tour would go to such lengths.

The manufacturers came up with a novel idea for the majors a couple of years back when they designed an appropriate bag for each major with shades blending with the tournament colours. Green for Augusta, red and white for the US Open and so on.

With team events, however, there is an ever increasing need to distinguish the opposing team's style. So the team bag is another symbol of diversity between the rival groups. The American team arrived at Dublin airport sporting the old country squire look. Their autumnal-coloured, tweed jacket looked like something that Prince Charles would feel comfortable wearing on a grouse shoot. The Europeans looked much more casual in their zip down shirts and suede jackets.

The American looked stylish in their golf gear yesterday. The Europeans were donning a band leader-style stripe down their collective trousers, very Poulteresque.

Finding it hard to make a distinction between the two teams from a golfing perspective during the first official practice round, I started to notice some subtle differences in the team golf bags.

The Americans have a very stylish Club Glove, a mainly red bag with a little splash of navy. It has a similar shape to the bag that the 1977 team would have used in the Ryder Cup at Lytham. The top of the bag, around the handle has got the stars and stripes on it. The shoulder strap is dotted with stars. Effectively it is a subtle version of the national flag. The oval shaped simple retro-looking United States Ryder Cup team badge is the main feature, and the gold trim and rounded pockets all contribute to possibly the most understated American golf bag since the event became as mega as it is today.

The European bag is a standard Burton brand. With a predominantly blue colour and its adorning golden 12 stars and bars, it looks like the Swedes would feel very much as if they had their national flag draped over their clubs. For Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson it must remind them of home every time they look at their new bags.

There is nothing subtle about the Europeans bag with "EUROPE" in big letters being its main feature. The base of the bag has got the original "Europe" splayed across it too.

With the predicted forecast of westerly gales and an accompanying deluge the true functional value of the respective bags will almost surely be put to the test. Questions like does it double as a canoe may be as important as how aesthetically pleasing it is and what the subtleties of the design do to the opposition.

With the support teams charging about the Palmer course at The K-Club, there should be no shortage in the supply of dry towels, so extra capacity will not be paramount.

If the bags were to decide this year's Ryder Cup there is no doubt who would be the winners. The American's piece de resistance is obviously a result of some very clever planning. When the caddie lays down the American bag a green shamrock is revealed. It's going to be hard to pull against these opponents with such a strong symbol of Ireland winking at the home spectators from the bottom of their golf bags.

After Tuesday's practice round the US are one up.