Captains call for Twitter curb

Ian Poulter's million followers on Twitter will have to make do without his many thoughts on the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor this week, with all 24 players having been told to focus on the match instead.

European captain Colin Montgomerie said on Monday that the recent controversy involving England cricket star Kevin Pietersen had prompted the move by himself and opposite number Corey Pavin. Pietersen was fined for reacting angrily to being left out of the one-day and Twenty20 squads and later issued an apology for his language.

Montgomerie said: "I've just asked my team not to and they have said 'OK - that's fine, we'll start again tweetering or twittering, having never done it, on Monday, October 4. Kevin Pietersen's error changed my view as to that."

Not that Montgomerie intends to police things to make sure nobody steps out of line.

"It's not a ban because if somebody does it how can you punish someone for it? It's not a ban.

"I'm not mentioning any names. I don't know who tweets or who doesn't tweet on our team, so I can't tell you.

"The captain doesn't and whoever does has been asked not to."

United States captain Pavin, who arrived with his side in Cardiff on Monday morning after an overnight flight from Atlanta, commented: "I think we talked about it as a team and we thought it best not to do it.

"We need to focus on playing and working on preparations and getting ready to play the Ryder Cup.

"As Colin said, Team USA, whatever they would like to do, tweeting or Facebooking or whatever it may be, they have the opportunity to do that next week - and for the rest of their lives!"