WHAT a fantastic time it was to be European on Sunday.

Like most of the country - and probably Continent - I watched the final day of the Ryder Cup and it made great viewing.

I think it was written in the stars for Darren Clarke so soon after the death of his wife and I was really pleased for the lad.

I have followed that situation closely because my wife is from Northern Ireland and I'm sure Heather was smiling down on him.

The crowd will have made it very special for him as well because the Irish are a very warm, nice race - just like the Scots.

For me, the Europeans displayed all the togetherness and team-work you need in any successful sporting side.

They also played with passion and a desire not to be beaten in every game, which was demonstrated right through to the very last match when the Ryder Cup had already been won but Lee Westwood, who lives not far away from me in Worksop, was putting on the final green.

I also thought Ian Woosnam showed great management in his selection of pairings.

The two Spaniards Jose-Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia played together, as did Clarke and Westwood, who are good friends. Woosnam seemed to know a lot about his players, which is a pre-requisite for any manager.

In my younger days, I used to play a bit of golf myself but, when I had my spinal injury, it was considered too much of a risk although my younger brother Stan, who also played professional football for Blackpool, Exeter, Hull and Hartlepool, still plays a lot.

To be honest, I was never that good.

At Hibernian, when we used to play in Europe, we would have a round of golf afterwards but, when you have kids, you don't really get the time and you have even less when you are a coach and manager. It's all long hours and lonely wives.

Now, I'm happy for my players to play golf but not after a Thursday.

You can walk five or six miles in a round, or ten miles if you are a bad player, and that can interfere with your football if it's only two days before a game.

If it's earlier in the week then I don't mind because it can get them out in the fresh air and it is good exercise.

It can also be a good way of relaxing, although I can't say it had that effect on me. It used to drive me mad that you could shank one shot and it would ruin your whole round.

I do enjoy watching golf though and tune in for all the top tournaments like the Masters but you don't get much time to watch live major events in other sports when you are a football manager.

I was, however, fortunate enough to attend the Formula Renault UK Championship at Donnington with my family last week.

One of our sponsors Stan Rogers, of Apotex UK, backs the Scorpio Formula Renault team as well and he invited us along.

It was a big, big event with 50,000 fans and I really enjoyed it.

In return, I have invited the two drivers for a training day at KitKat Crescent and I look forward to seeing them soon.