Richard Head with Ian Woosnam
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The weather could have a vital influence on the outcome of the Ryder Cup this week and Ian Woosnam's involvement in the creation of the
ProQuip rain suit the European Ryder Cup team is wearing might swing the balance.
Experts are forecasting heavy rain and high winds for the K Club venue near Dublin from the tail end of Hurricane Gortdon, which is moving up on the Gulf Stream from the Azores. The Straffan area also has a history of wet Septembers in recent years.
ProQuip says the exclusively designed European Ryder Cup suit, made with a featherweight, silk-like fabric, is so soft and light that it's almost soundless to play in - a crucial factor says Woosnam in eliminating material noise during the swing, which can be distracting
Says Woosnam: "This is the best golf weatherwear I've ever worn. The fabric is incredibly soft and lightweight and, most important of all, quiet to swing in.
"For tournament pros, what makes many waterproof suits difficult to play in is the noise created by the fabric rustling during the swing. This suit solves that problem if the weather turns bad in Ireland this week."
Richard Head, ProQuip's managing director and chief designer, who developed the company's award winning Ultralite fabric in 1999 as well as the recently launched Silk Touch range: "Given the weather forecast for Ireland, the performance of the European team's rain suit could play a significant part in the players' ability to cope with poor conditions.
"Woosie knew the weather could be a factor in Ireland, which is why we went to such lengths developing a special featherweight, virtually silent, fabric in a rain suit that has been individually tailored and fitted for each player. Crucially it enhances their ability to perform in wet weather."
Gerry Byrne, course superintendent at The K Club, who takes meteorological readings every day, warned: "Although September used to be a dry month, it has been wet the past three consecutive years. Last year, we had nearly four inches of rain during 14 days in September. So we have come to expect the unexpected - and we are fully prepared for a wet Ryder Cup."
The weekend forecast from
the Irish Meteorogical service is for unsettled, very wet weather with high, gusting winds initially. Bright weather, with sunny spells and scattered heavy showers will move in over the weekend with the temperatures warm and humid in fresh south westerly winds.
The Ryder Cup already looks an interesting prospect and now Mother Nature is taking a hand, it may be determined by who copes best in the inclement conditions.
