SEVE BALLESTEROS wants the Ryder Cup to be played in Ireland in 2005 and he suggested yesterday that it might even be played on one of his own courses that is still on the drawing board. The Spaniard made public his "Ireland next" plea on the eve of the BMW Open in Munich where he joins Bernhard Langer, Frank Nobilo and Paul Azinger among the favourites at the St Eurach club in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps.
"I know the next home match is going to be at The Belfry," said the Ryder Cup captain, "but after that it must go all round Europe, and Ireland is the first stop. Next time I will be strongly supporting Ireland because its players have done so much and its people are so keen. There is no reason why the match should not go there, and by the time of the match there should be a lot of new courses to choose from."
Ballesteros revealed that a contender could be the one he is planning at Killeen. "I am starting on it at the end of the year," he said. "Perhaps it will be good enough to stage the match, and who knows, although I will be 48, I might even be playing in it.
Like many he is surprised that Ireland did not get an opportunity to bid for the 2001 match in Europe which is destined for The Belfry. "It is a good venue, but we have played there three times already, and we lost on the last occasion," he pointed out. "So it has to be Ireland next, and that Germany, Sweden and Italy all have a case.
Ballesteros has returned after a two weeks break convinced that his game is on the mend. He was 12th behind Frank Nobilo in the Deutsche Bank Open in Hamburg, and says he is in metamorphosis. "My game is beginning to show and my feel is coming back," he says.
Darren Clarke has returned from his abortive efforts at Oakland Hills where he shot 77-73, to compete for a title that almost came his way two years ago. Clarke led going into the final round but was overhauled by Mark McNulty.
"I should have made the halfway cut in the US Open but it was all part of the experience," he said. "This is my seventh week in a row so I shall be taking a rest from the French Open. My sister gets married that week so I can combine that with a break in order to be fresh for the Irish, Scottish and British Opens."
Padraig Harrington has also decided to play in Germany and miss the French Open, but in his case, so that he can consult coach Howard Bennett and work on a long game that is beginning to cause him some concern. Raymond Burns, David Higgins, and Francis Howley are also in the nine strong Irish contingent which also includes Ronan Rafferty and Eoghan O'Connell, and the Ryder Cup veterans Christy O'Connor Jnr and Eamonn Darcy.
Azinger, the 36 year old former USPGA champion is making his first European Tour appearance since he recovered from lymphona cancer in his shoulder. He won the BMW title in 1990 and 1992. Nobilo, who won the Deutsche Bank Open in Hamburg earlier this month is the defending champion. A first prize of £116,660 is on offer.
