A royal visit to Celtic Manor

NEWPORT, Wales -- The first Ryder Cup in Wales deserved a visit from the Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles obliged on Wednesday at Celtic Manor Resort, visiting briefly with captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin before meeting and greeting fans in the spectator village. Reporters were forbidden from interviewing the prince, surrounded by police and security, as he made his way past shops in the village and the food court before stopping in front of the temporary pub.

"What are you all drinking?" he asked in all earnestness.

Rhian Wyn Jones of Conwy, North Wales, answered by reaching out and offering him a sip of her Brain Bitters. The prince accepted the plastic pint cup adorned with the Ryder Cup logo and poured a sizable swig down his gullet.

"I was surprised he took it," Jones said excitedly, still holding the cup but not having drank out of it since the prince quaffed a portion.

Was she planning on saving the rest of it as a keepsake? Nope. Just the cup. "It's my first pint of the day. I'm going to enjoy it."

-- Dave Shedloski