Ryder Cup skipper Woosnam stymied by M50 traffic jam

Alison Healy, Irish Times, 19/09/2006


He may be the European Ryder Cup captain but not even Ian Woosnam could rise above an M50 traffic jam yesterday.


Heavy rain, Monday traffic and M50 roadworks meant it took the golfer almost two hours to travel from Dublin airport to the K Club, despite having a Garda escort.

A joint press conference had been planned with the US captain Tom Lehman at 4pm at the K Club but, because of the traffic problems, the US captain went ahead with his press conference and Woosnam held his about 45 minutes later.

The European captain was clearly not impressed with the delay, but declined to voice any criticism to reporters who asked about his journey.

"It was very busy coming over the [ toll] bridge," he commented. Then he said he could see where reporters were going with their questions, but he had nothing else to add.

AA spokesman Conor Faughnan said he was not surprised the golfer had been caught up in an M50 traffic jam, as 110,000 people suffer this experience every day on the Dublin ring road.

There had been several "huge downpours" yesterday, he said, and rain always contributed to traffic congestion. Such a delay to Ryder Cup traffic just days before the competition was not expected, as large numbers of spectators will only start to arrive today.

However, Mr Faughnan said the vast majority of people would be using public transport to get to the event in Straffan, Co Kildare.

He said the expected 45,000 spectators a day was a manageable figure as this was almost half the number of spectators attending an All-Ireland match.

"There is a good public transport plan in place and I think we should be able to cope," Mr Faughnan said.

Meanwhile, last night the three taxi drivers' unions said it was still 50-50 as to whether they would go on strike during the Ryder Cup.

The unions met taxi regulator Ger Deering yesterday and had what was described as "constructive" talks, but the three unions said they would not make a decision until later today or tomorrow.

© The Irish Times