The cheerleader and the captain's cover girl wife... meet the Ryder Cup WAGs

Meet the American golf birdies giving Britain's football WAGs a run for their money. The wives and girlfriends of the USA's Ryder Cup team descended on Cardiff earlier this week as the players prepared to do battle with Europe at Celtic Manor.And they've bought their own brash brand of glamour with them.

The group is being lead by Lisa Pavin, who is the wife of the team's official captain Corey. The 36-year-old, who is happy to be referred to as the 'Captainess', is comfortable taking centre stage and Hunter Mahan's fiancee, Kandi Harris, turns a few heads, too. She's a former cheerleader.

Introducing America's golf WAGs: USA captain Corey Pavin's wife Lisa appeared on the cover of Avid Golfer while Hunter Mahan's fiancee, Kandi Harris, used to be a cheerleader

Go team! The former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader met the golfer in December and the pair are set to wed next year

She recently raised a few eyebrows in the conservative golf world with a very racy appearance on the cover of Avid Golfer magazine. With just a red, white and blue flag to save her modesty, she is seen striking a seductive pose for the shoot.

The couple shrugged off critics, with Corey saying: 'A lot has been said about that photograph, but I thought it was done in great taste. 'I thought it was a beautiful picture. She's a beautiful woman and I'm lucky to have her.'

Lisa, who is 50-year-old Corey's second wife, has proved herself to be equally supportive - and protective - of her husband too. In fact, the outspoken WAG, who moved to the US from Vietnam as a young child, has ruffled a few feathers with her fiery approach. She had a Twitter battle with the Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck, who was once critical of Corey in the Nineties, tweeting: 'No wonder the Tour calls him Shipwreck.'

Michelle Mell (partner of Paul Goydos), Melissa Lehman (wife of Tom Lehman), Lisa Pavin (wife of Corey Pavin), Robin Love (wife of Davis Love III), Angie Watson (wife of Bubba Watson), Back row (L-R) Kim Johnson (wife of Zach Johnson), Amanda Caulder (partner of Dustin Johnson), Tabitha Furyk (wife of Jim Furyk), Lisa Cink (wife of Stewart Cink), Alexandra Browne (partner of Rickie Fowler), Kandi Harris (partner of Hunter Mahan), Christina Zimmer (partner of Jeff Overton), and Sybil Kuchar (wife of Matt Kuchar), during the Ladies Outing to Cardiff Bay

(L-R) Alison McGinley (wife of Paul McGinley), Marian Jimenez (wife of Miguel Angel Jimenez), Allison Micheletti (partner of Martin Kaymer), Laurae Westwood (wife of Lee Westwood), Holly Sweeney (Rory McIlroy), Caroline Harrington (wife of Padraig Harrington), Gaynor Montgomerie (wife of Colin Montgomerie), Alison Campbell (partner of Darren Clarke), Anna Roscio ( partner of Edoardo Molinari), Katie Poulter (wife of Ian Poulter), Valentina Molinari (wife of Francesco Molinari) and Sanna Hanson (wife of Peter Hanson)

She also spoke out during a public row between her husband and Golf Channel reporter Jim Gray over a comment made about Tiger Woods. Her involvement in her husband's career has been described in one press profile as 'unhinged' after she said this year: 'I want to win the Cup more than anything.'

On another occasion, she said: 'When the Ryder Cup is over, I want the PGA of America to remember the positive ideas and inputs and, hopefully, they have something to remember me by.'Fellow American WAG Kandi Harris is a 24-year-old blonde used to cheer for American Football giants the Dallas Cowboys. Hunter and Kandi met in December through a mutual friend and quickly became engaged. The are set to wed in January.

European team captain's wife Gaynor Montgomerie with Pavin at the University of Wales Fashion Show

When asked about their whirlwind romance, Hunter has said: 'People say when you know, you know. I'm always like, that's crazy talk. 'But we had a great connection. She's just the best. I mean, she just brings out the best in me, so that's all I can ask for.'

The American WAGs are being hosted by the wife of Colin Montgomerie, who is Europe's team captain. Gaynor has proved to be a gracious and understated 'Lady Captain'. She clearly remains a loyal wife, despite the fact her husband confessed to an affair with an old flame not long after they married in 2008. The no-fuss brunette will be among those at the first official function of the Ryder Cup, a dinner at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium tonight.

Prince Charles met with with U.S. team captain Corey Pavin, right, and Europe team captain Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor golf course in Newport today

Prince Charles rode around in a golf buggy with Sir Terry Matthews, left, owner of the Celtic Manor Resort

Members of the European team practice putting on the fifth green today

Give me a N-O! Cheerleaders will be absent from first ever Super Bowl in 45-year history

This year's Super Bowl game will be the first in its 45-year history not to feature cheerleaders.The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers both do not have cheerleading squads after axeing them more than 20 years ago. Cheerleaders have been a staple of the Super Bowl experience every year, along with half-time entertainment and companies spending a fortune on adverts during breaks in play.

The San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform at the game against the Denver Broncos at Wembley, London, in October

Only six NFL teams do not have cheerleading squads. They are the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants

But both teams have confirmed they will not bring in substitutes for the NFL decider in Dallas, and the league has also confirmed it would not be providing cheerleaders. Jamie Beckman, a former state-level cheerleader, told Fox News: 'They aren't necessary to a sporting event per se, but cheerleaders have always been a tradition in sports, and some of the teams have become icons in their own right, such as the Laker Girls and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

'They put in long and hard hours working to develop complicated, tumbling and stunt-filled routines that no average athlete could master without serious training.' She added: 'I have to say, as I grew older and left my cheer career behind, I realised that during NFL games, when the cameraman shoots a blond cheerleader right before the station goes to commercial, it ain't because he's trying to capture her athleticism.'

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, winces as he is hit during the NFC Championship game. The team has chosen not to take substitute cheerleaders

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger prepares to throw the football. The team got rid of its cheerleaders in 1970 after an 'organisational decision'

Green Bay cut its cheerleading squad in 1988 and the Steelers got rid of its cheerleaders in 1970 after fan apathy. Larry Tobin, a sports expert based in Los Angeles, told the site: 'I have always felt as though cheerleaders were entertainment for people who weren't really there for the game.'I honestly couldn't have told you that there were cheerleaders at any of the Super Bowl games I've been to.' Last year, 106.5million people watched the Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts - the most-watched TV progamme in the U.S. in history.The Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most Super Bowls, with six.

So you heard about the LA Lakers cheerleaders then? Premiership stars turn out to see Beckham's favourite team

Premiership stars swapped their footballs for basketballs last night as they turned out en masse to watch the LA Lakers at London's O2 Arena.But not being a particularly popular sport in the UK, could it have been the team's world famous cheerleaders that lured them across London on a cold and wet evening?Stars from Arsenal and Chelsea were snapped in their VIP front row seats at the sold out pre-season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Arsenal stars (L-R) Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela watch the LA Lakers - and their cheerleaders - as the O2 Arena last night

A perfect spot to watch the match - and check out the scantily-clad ladies dancing their socks off before and during the game.Maybe they'd had a word with David Beckham who is a regular at the LA Lakers games in Los Angeles, and has been snapped a couple of times cheekily checking out the cheerleaders.The Laker Girls performed their energetic routines in yellow shorts and cropped tops that showed off their toned midriffs.

Gimme an L! The LA Lakers cheerleaders entertain the crowd during a break in the match

Costume change: The girls swap their yellow skimpy outfits for purple ones as they strut their stuff on the courtThey also treated their delighted onlookers to a costume change and came out for another number in tiny purple skirts and cropped tops.But while they may have been the main attraction for some, let's not forget there was actually a basketball game going on.

The girls swap their yellow skimpy outfits for purple ones as they strut their stuff on the court

Hello there! David Beckham was caught checking out a cheerleader's derriere when he attended a game two years ago

And there was a lot of famous faces in the crowd at the Docklands venue who had come to watch the Lakers and the Timberwolves in action.Snapped in the front row was four of Arsenal's biggest stars who had taken the night off and headed east for the big game.

Feeling a bit skint, van Persie? The Arsenal stars watch mega multi-millionaire Kobe Bryant in action for the Lakers

Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Francesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela sat together and looked as though they were having a great night as they laughed and chatted together and attentively watched the game.Also in the audience was Sunderland stars Darren Bent and Anton Ferdinand, West Ham's Carlton Cole, Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Shaun Wright Phillips, Fulham's Bobby Zamora and Aston Villa's Steve Sidwell.

Sunderland's Darren Bent and West Ham's Carlton Cole were also at the game

Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Fulham's Bobby Zamora - who is nursing a broken leg - were also at the O2

They were joined by Chelsea star Ashley Cole and Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas.And while most of the footballers command thousand and thousands of pounds wages every week, their salaries look rather measly compared to last night's biggest star in the arena - Kobe Bryant.The 6ft 6in star earns approximately £16million each year, making the Premiership stars seem practically skint in comparison.

Shooting guard Kobe Bryant leaves his opponents in his wake as he races up the court

Laker's Steve Blake storms round a Minnesota player - but it wasn't enough and the Lakers lost 92 to 111

And he admitted last night that he probably wouldn't have played but did to repay British basketball fans. He only managed six minutes on the court, as he continues to nurse a knee injury, and the Lakers ended up losing 92 to 111.But he said: '(The fans) were really the only reason I played.

There was a sense of responsibility to get out there and play . When we fly all this way to get here and the fans come out you feel a responsibility to get in there and play a bit.'Also among the celebrity fans last night was comedian James Corden, JLS, Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony and Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, who was snapped sitting with his show's sports presenter Tina Daheley.

Chris Moyles was joined at the game by his show's sports presenter Tina Daheley