Woods' dawn start casts shadow over build-up

Tiger Woods was given the go ahead by his American captain, Curtis Strange, to spend the final practice day prior to the 34th Ryder Cup preparing as if it was a major championship. Woods, who has won two of this year's four majors and seven of the last 13, took to the course at 6.45am to play nine holes with Mark Calcavecchia, his probable foursomes partner this afternoon.

It is Woods' usual routine to play practice rounds shortly after dawn in the run-up to big tournaments so the world No 1 can go about his business without the frenzied atmosphere that surrounds him on tournament days. His move yesterday was a bonus for the handful of spectators who were on the course that early but disappointed many who had assumed he would be playing with the rest of the American team at their scheduled tee time of 9am.

By then, Woods was back in his hotel room, resting up before the afternoon's opening ceremony. Tiger complained last week that he disliked being taken out of his normal routine of practice and workouts during the build up to the Ryder Cup. But on arriving at The Belfry, Strange said Woods had been told to toe the line. The deal, however, included a more relaxed approach yesterday than during the formal team practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Tiger was not breaking ranks," Strange said. "Today I told my players to prepare as for a major championship because this is a big deal. Some went off early, some went off later, some played nine holes, some played 18. If anyone is upset, they should be upset with me. But this is not an exhibition. This is a hell of a competition which we take great pride in winning and playing well in. I think it is best for the US team that Tiger prepared the way he would for a major. I used that analogy because I wanted to stress to my players how big an event this is."

Only last week in practice for the Solheim Cup in America, two European players were hauled off the course after they teed off at the 10th intending to play only nine holes. They were allowed back on by the American officials only when they were caught up by the rest of their team.

Although a squad of marshals had to scramble to catch up with Woods, there was no official intervention. "Tiger is the No 1 player in the world and he does get a lot of hassle from crowds," said Sam Torrance, the European captain. "Maybe he wanted a quiet round to prepare for tomorrow – he won't be out at 6am then. I am sorry for the fans that didn't see him but all the Europeans were out there."

Strange changed his mind on pairing Woods with Calcavecchia for this morning's opening fourballs. Instead Woods will play with Paul Azinger, who has not played in the Ryder Cup since 1993 when he was diagnosed with cancer in his shoulder. Their opponents will be Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn, both of whom have beaten Woods head-to-head in important tournaments.

While Torrance dropped Jesper Parnevik, he gave Lee Westwood a vote of confidence by pairing the Worksop man, who has not won for two years, with Europe's leading player, Sergio Garcia. Niclas Fasth is the only European rookie to play in the morning, while Colin Montgomerie has got his wish to play with Bernhard Langer.

While Woods turned up to the Gala Dinner on Wednesday with the Swedish model Elin Nordegren on his arm, the 22-year-old Garcia, who watched his girlfriend Martina Hingis at the US Open tennis in New York last month, arrived with his mother Consuelo. After Strange had introduced each of his players, Torrance announced both his players and their wives or partners. Strange had not known of the Scot's intention. "I did what I thought was right," said the American.

Following the controversy about player behaviour at Brookline three years ago, both captains made reference to the subject at the opening ceremony. "We will play hard but with civility," said Strange. "I pledge that I and my team will uphold the traditions of the Ryder Cup," declared Torrance. Both teams remain the same as the ones selected a year ago before the event was postponed following the terrorist attacks in the States.