US lead Golf World Cup thanks to Weekley and Slocum

So imagine the pride felt in that smallest of small towns when they woke up on Thanksgiving Day yesterday to discover that not only were two of those males representing the entire nation at golf in the World Cup in faraway China, but that they were leading after the first day.

Actually, we can guess exactly how they felt, given what happened to Heath Slocum on February 29, 2004, and Boo Weekley earlier this year.

The first was honoured by Heath Slocum Day in Milton following his first victory on the U.S. Tour and Weekley was afforded a similar honour after his win in the Heritage Classic in April.

What on earth would happen if one of them won this event? The latter would probably find his name shortened in the run-up to Christmas, so that Milton could celebrate Boo Week.

As is usual for this tournament, they had to go quite a way down the list before they came up with two Americans prepared to travel to the other side of the world.

Given Weekley's reaction, how glad they must have been to get him.

He said: 'I nearly cried because just to be able to know I can come over and represent the United States and then to be able to call one of my good friends up and ask him to play with me, that's even better.'

'I think I was up a tree deer hunting at the time I got the call.

'I wouldn't care if I was the best player in the world, I wouldn't be turning down the chance to play for America. But that's just me.'

Weekley is the 34-year-old country boy who only got a passport for the first time earlier this year. On visiting the Home of Golf in July, he came up with a description you won't find in any brochure for the Scottish Tourist Board.

'It's not all that bad,' reckoned Boo. 'After all, they do speak American.' When told that Weekley would be going to China, Scott Verplank joked: 'This could open up a whole new era in US-China relations.'

The adventure began at the Chinese border with Weekley's caddie Joe Pyle refused entry for not having a visa. 'It's an ordeal everytime we go somewhere,' sighed Boo.

He did, however, come up with a rather cute response when told there had been some criticism about the quality of this American team.

'I know nothing about no criticism, ma'am,' he said. 'I thought they'd sent the best team.' The first day's fourballs usually lead to a bunched leaderboard and here was no exception.

Germany were one shot behind the Americans on 10 under with three home countries — Scotland, England and Wales — among a group of no less than six nations on nine under.

A dry sense of humour comes in handy when you're Colin Montgomerie's caddie, you've told him what line to take with his drive and he strikes what he considers a belter only to see it plunge into a fairway bunker. Fortunately, Craig Connolly was more than up to the task, coming out with an exquisite line that will surely stand as one of the golfing quotes of the year.

Asked what Monty said to him after his uncharacteristic gaffe on the 11th, Connolly replied: 'He said, "Never mind, Craig, let's make a four the hard way" — only not in those words.'

Actually, if you're going to make such an error with Monty and live to tell the tale, this was the day to do it. The Scot was so relaxed he was happily pronouncing on everything from golf in strange places to dreamily wishing that his daughters would afford him the same courtesy as the policemen who saluted him on to every tee — and that was between shots.

Off the course, he got stuck into England's dire football team. 'Too many foreigners in the Premier League,' he blithely pronounced, before realising the consequences.

'Oh, I can see the headlines now. "Monty Slams Foreigners". Or "Monty Slams Premier League".'

Monty and his partner Marc Warren got a taste for this event last year when they lost in a play-off.

The year before, Wales achieved an unexpected triumph in Portugal and the same under-rated Wales team of Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge are in contention once more following an opening 63.

Ian Poulter and Justin Rose might be close friends but yesterday was the first time they had played together in competition for more than five years. Asked how their games had changed, Rose came up with a lovely aside.

Poulter was paying tribute to Rose's consistency, saying: 'He's only missed one cut this year whereas back then he would have missed a handful,' when Rose piped up, a broad smile on his face.

Referring to the dreadful start he made to his pro career, he said: 'Twenty-one, to be precise.'