Wasps the latest problem to strike Gleneagles

After rectifying one problem besmirching the PGA Centenary course that will host the 2014 Ryder Cup, Gleneagles officials have been struck by another - swarms of wasps.

Back in 2008, Lee Westwood was scathing in his assessment of the greens on the Perthshire course, describing them as ''awful'' and adding that his ''kids could come up with a better design in an afternoon.''

The putting surfaces have been firmed up and with changes also made to other parts of the course that came under fire, tournament chairman and Scottish star Colin Montgomerie declared on the eve of this year's event that it had ''never looked better.''

That may be the case but organizers can do little about the latest problem to blight Gleneagles.

European Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher came off the course after his first round on Thursday complaining about wasps swarming over him and his ball throughout his round.

''They were everywhere,'' said the Englishman.

Mark Foster also played through swarms in shooting a 6-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead.

''I was out with two of my friends today, David Howell and Jamie Donaldson, and I would say two out of the three of us backed off every shot,'' Foster said.

''I remember on No. 12 making a putt with one of them on. It's going to come off when you hit it.''

Hover flies and bees were also making a nuisance of themselves, while thick fog delayed the start of play by 2 hours, 40 minutes, meaning the first round wouldn't be completed until Friday.

At least there was no criticism of the course itself.

Westwood isn't the only player to lay into the PGA Centenary course, which will welcome the Europe and United States teams in three years' time.

Darren Clarke pulled no punches in 2007, slamming the fact that the Ryder Cup was to be played in Scotland on an American-style track.

''It's beyond my comprehension that they're going to be staging a Ryder Cup on this venue,'' Clarke said at the time. ''Gleneagles is a wonderful resort and a sensational place but the Ryder Cup is going to be played on the wrong course.''

Clarke and Westwood have chosen not to compete at Gleneagles this week.