another league programme.

But, judging from the handful of cup games played already, we could again be facing a season that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

In five matches so far -- the Charity Cup and two Martonmere Cup double headers -- five players have been sent off, an ugly statistic reminiscent of the onfield turmoil Bermuda Football Association endured last season.

Fortunately, violence hasn't been a predominant factor in these dismissals.

Most have been ordered off by way of the second bookable offence, the referee now having no option but to wave the red card once a player already booked receives a second yellow.

It's a law that has resulted in a huge hike in sending offs wherever the game is played, and as such the BFA won't be unduly worried by the one-a-game average so far.

But it's something that might concern national coach Clyde Best as he prepares for a season in which Bermuda play both World Cup and Olympic qualifiers.

Already facing the prospect of losing some of his national squad players who refused to take drug tests prior to the recent tour by Cayman Islands, Best can ill afford to see other potential stars out of action through suspension.

Self-discipline at the international level will no doubt be a matter the coach will be impressing on all of his players, aware that Bermuda's cause is tough enough against most opposition with 11 men, let alone 10 or less.

That self-discipline, however, has to be instilled at club level and it will be interesting to see in this campaign which clubs and which individual players are most guilty.

Red card statistics don't appear to be kept by the BFA, and if they are, are never released to the media.

But this season, we're keeping count. And we'll keep you informed! *** LAST weekend's Ryder Cup golf matches may go on record as the most dramatic ever.

But what transpired on the picturesque Brookline course on the outskirts of Boston was enough to have made tournament founder Samuel Ryder turn in his grave.

What those on the course and millions more watching TV witnessed was perhaps the most stirring fightback seen in any major sporting event ultimately tarnished by another sickly display of American patriotism so perverted it completely overshadowed the players' heroics.

Heckling the opposition has its place in most sports, but rarely in golf. To actually attempt to distract a player by shrieking at the top of his backswing or as his putter blade approaches the ball is simply unforgiveable.

All the more remarkable was the fact that despite there being hundreds of security officials in attendance, no attempt was made to remove the perpetrators, most of whom, it should be said, were drunk.

As for the American players, they showed on Sunday, as they had rightly predicted, that on their day they are unbeatable.

Yet the histrionics of team members such as Hal Sutton again demonstrated that some Americans have yet to learn the art of winning with humility.

As usual, it was from a small minority within the gallery that the unsportsmanlike behaviour unfolded. But by the time the match had neared its end on Sunday evening, there were several others whose antics could be blamed as much on the encouragement from American players as it could on their own pitiful lack of self control.

Sadly, overshadowed by the circus-like climax was a spectacular exhibition of golf provided by players from both sides in a contest that was always going to be close despite the Europeans' runaway start.

And that could be put down to the format as much as it could the players' ability.

Match play is so much more entertaining than the often predictable 72-hole tour tournaments which dominate our screens most weekend evenings of the year, it's a wonder more events aren't included on the calendar.

Apart from the Ryder Cup, there's the World Match Play Championships at Wentworth and the recently launched Andersen World Championships, and little else.

And that's something that Bermuda's Mid Ocean Club and sponsors Gillette might consider when they discuss what improvements could be made to the $1.95 million tournament which makes its third appearance in Tucker's Town next Tuesday.

Despite the sizeable purse, and the attraction of having players from all three tours, the event format as it stands now -- 18-hole, best-ball -- generates little excitement.

How much more interesting it might be if a match play plan could be worked out over two days -- ladies playing from the forward tees, seniors from the regular tees and PGA pros from the championship tees.

Using those tees, as has been witnessed over the past two years, the LPGA and Senior pros have been more than a match for their more illustrious PGA Tour partners.

It would be intriguing to see how they fared one-on-one.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON