The European Ryder Cup team pose for a photo with the trophy ahead of the final practice session at the K Club

A member of the K Club staff prepares the 18th green for the final practice session ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup

The USA team look in relaxed mood posing for a photo as they finalise their preparations for the competition in Ireland

Europe's Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal get their eye in on the fourth green at the K Club

The USA's Tiger Woods, Chris DiMarco, Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson practice their putting on the 18th green

Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Colin Montgomerie share a joke while waiting to tee off at the second hole

The USA team's wives and girlfriends settle down to watch the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup

The 2006 Ryder Cup opening ceremony gets underway with a show which features traditional Irish music and dance

The Europe team's wives and girlfriends clap and cheer as their other halves are introduced to the crowd at the K Club

Woods, who along with Furyk will play Padraig Harrington and Montgomerie in the opening fourballs, waves to the crowd