We're off - at last. It has been a long few days but now it's about to begin. I am really excited. My first Ryder Cup, I have met Muhammad Ali and Poults and I are taking on Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell. It is the realisation of a dream.

We are off in the third match of the morning foursomes. I couldn't wish for anyone else with whom to be doing this. Poults is an old friend. He has been in good form this week. I think he has a point to prove and generally when he has a point to prove he does it. I remember when we roomed together years ago he would occasionally say things like "I've got a feeling I'm going to win in the next few weeks" and he would go off and do it.

To be honest, when I ws growing up Dad and I talked about my playing in the Walker Cup. I achieved that. Then when I turned pro I targeted the major championships. The Ryder Cup is as big as a major championship. It is all a bit of a dream. It has made my year to get into the team. Now I have to put some gilt on the gingerbread by playing well in it.

Poults and I talked about who would play the first tee shot. I know the atmosphere is going to be very noisy and the tension will be so thick you could cut it with a knife. We decided that I would play the first shot. This is a moment people have talked about for a long long time. I am looking forward to experiencing it. The golf course suits us if I take the odd holes on which to drive and Poults takes the even ones. It gives me a lot of the mid irons and long irons into the greeens, which I think I hit on a slightly higher ball flight than Ian and therefore might give us a little bit more control if the greens do get firm. It gives him some tee shots he feels comfortable with and also should I miss one or two greens with those long irons Ian has a great short game as well to get us out of trouble.

How the 2008 Ryder Cup was won

Follow the final day's play from Valhalla as the 37th Ryder Cup draws to a dramatic conclusion with today's singles matches

• Mission accomplished for United States

• Justin Rose's Ryder Cup diary: I'm heartbroken

• Analysis: misfiring big three cost Europe dear in Ryder Cup

Europe surrender under brilliant assault

The US reclaimed the Ryder Cup for first time since 1999 with a sustained performance in the singles matches at Valhalla

• Elementary approach pays off for J.B. Holmes

• Nick Faldo's bold approach backfires in failure to reclaim initiative from US

• Ryder Cup warning signs to watch out for

Multimedia

• The key moments, match by match

• Is Faldo to blame for Europe's defeat?

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Tonight is going to be a quiet night. Give yourself a bit of extra time tomorrow morning. Come here to the course early, give yourself a stretch, have a good breakfast if you can eat breakfast and get out there. We are the third match out. That's nice. The sun comes up quite late. There is only 30 minutes between sunrise and 1st tee. There are 15-minute gaps between the matches and we are off at 8.35.

The presentation of the players at the Gala dinner on Wednesday night was cool. As we stood on the steps waiting to be introduced I noticed one of my shoe laces was undone. I thought I had better tie it up before I make a fool of myself by tripping up as I walked down the steps and across to the lecturn. The presentation was a great experience. There were more than 1000 people there and there was a lot of applause.

The singer Carrie Underwood was on afterwards and I really like her music. We didn't stay for the entire show but we saw the majority of it. I think a few of the guys began to flag a bit. Nick was in his element, though. He is a mother hen.

My sister, Margi, was watching it from seats near the back and she said I looked really cute and I was the only one who was really smiling. That was rather sweet of her wasn't it? I was busy taking in the moment, soaking it up, and enjoying it. That was the first time I had seen any of the American guys and said hello to them. Our practice schedules have been the opposite. They have played one nine and we have played the other. It was good, very cordial, very polite, obviosuly wishing us good luck and wishing one another a good week. That's the great thing about the Ryder Cup. Obviously it can spill over if emotions run high but at the same time golf generally does a good job of keeping it all level.

Not only was I thinking of Dad when I was waiting to be announced, I was thinking of my Mum, who was in the audience. To be honest I haven't seen my Mother much this week. This is the worst week in terms of seeing your family. You're caught up in what the team is doing and I haven't had a chance to catch up with them. But I have no doubt she was very proud and probably a little bit emotional. She had every right to be.