Georgia Draw

We call him Tiny, which seems a charming description for a powerful man of 6ft 3ins and 23 stones. A familiar figure at major golfing events in the US, Ede Harake is a former wrestler and a native of Athens, Georgia. And he's here at Valderrama.

Tiny is the guardian of the media centre for the Ryder Cup. He is our protector from unwelcome callers, unless we happen to have arrived without the proper accreditation. Then he becomes an insurmountable obstacle. A few well-chosen words in his southern drawl scuppers even the most articulate argument.

"It's my first time over here and I was surprised and pleased to be asked," he said. "After Kiawah Island and Oak Hill, this is my third Ryder Cup but I've been at 31 Masters, 10 US Opens and 11 (US) PGAs."

He has felt the need to carry a gun on only one occasion. "That was at a jewellery trade show in Atlanta," he explained. Which would suggest it takes more than physical bulk and a Georgia draw to deter prospective jewel thieves.