Europe's Ryder Cup team have set off for America for the 37th Ryder Cup showdown against the United States.
The side, captained by Nick Faldo, flew from Heathrow and will be monitoring the weather as they aim to retain the coveted trophy at Valhalla in Kentucky.
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Last gasp for Germany's bars ... at the Louisville course.
The weather is set to improve for the contest, which starts on Friday.
Europe are the reigning champions, having won the 2006 showdown 18Ѕ-9Ѕ at the K Club in Ireland.
They triumphed by the same scoreline two years earlier at Oakland Hills in Michigan, and have not been defeated since the 'Battle of Brookline' in 1999.
Faldo received a boost ahead of the tournament, with Robert Karlsson winning the Mercedez-Benz Championship on Sunday, the Swede's first victory for two years.
Team-mates Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen and Graeme McDowell finished third, eighth and 16th respectively in Germany.
"I'm in the fortunate position that I've got 12 guys playing great," said Faldo before departure.
Some players based in America, such as Paul Casey, were not on the flight and are expected to join the team later.
Those at Heathrow included England's Lee Westwood and Ireland's Padraig Harrington. They were dressed in brown zip-up jackets, white T-shirts and beige trousers.
Although much of Louisville was plunged into darkness when power lines were brought down on Sunday, forecasters predict pleasant weather conditions from Tuesday onwards.
Temperatures are expected to settle at about 25C, with winds of between five and 10mph and little rain.
Kerry Haigh, in charge of the staging of the Ryder Cup, said the television tower fell on the 12th hole.
"The PGA of America is working to clean up all affected areas and is confident that when spectators arrive on Tuesday for the first full practice round, Valhalla will be ready for the biggest event in golf this year," he said.
United States skipper Paul Azinger has an inexperienced side, including six rookies and is without the injured world number one Tiger Woods.
But he plans to have an open telephone 'hotline' to Woods and hopes the home crowd can lift his side.
"It will be unique to be in America on our home soil as underdogs but clearly, the European team is strong," he admitted when naming his team.
(BBC)
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