Cutting edge to a civil affair

GOLF/Seve Trophy: If, as Padraig Harrington would have us believe, the two-year qualifying process for the Ryder Cup is a "gut-wrenching" experience, the same can hardly be said for the Seve Trophy which is an altogether more civil affair.

Be that as it may, the competitive instinct of a professional golfer is such that defeat never tastes sweet to the palate - and, so, the opportunity to exact a type of revenge for their defeat to Continental Europe in the inaugural staging two years ago should be a sufficient motivating factor for Britain and Ireland when the three-day matchplay competition gets under way at Druids Glen today.

Continental Europe's cause, of course, hasn't been helped by the decision of Sergio Garcia, Bernhard Langer and Jesper Parnevik to stay away. Not that Seve Ballesteros, publicly at least, will accept such a view.

"It's not an issue," remarked Ballesteros of the trio's absence, adding: "I've a fantastic team." And, yet, in terms of the strength of the respective teams, Britain and Ireland appear strongest. Nine of the 10 team members are in the world's top-100, as against six of the continentals, and three of them - Harrington (9), Darren Clarke (12) and Colin Montgomerie (29) - are in the top 30. Only Jose Maria Olazabal (14) from the European team is so positioned.

"We'd start favourites as a ranking thing," admitted Montgomerie, "but, at the same, time the Americans start favourites in the Ryder Cup and it doesn't always work out their way. It'll be a very close competition."

Indeed, the beauty of matchplay is such that the underdog can often bite first and last, and the memory of Sunningdale two years ago is still fresh enough in Montgomerie's mind for him not to treat the Continental challenge with anything other than the utmost respect. On that occasion, Montgomerie lost to Ballesteros in what proved to be the decisive match and the prospect of the Spaniard whizzing around the glens in a buggy, as he did as Ryder Cup captain at Valderrama in 1997, is one which is likely to inspire the continentals as much as it will perplex the Britain and Ireland side.

Far from being the exhibition that Montgomerie thought he was walking into in the inaugural competition, this year he is under no such illusions. "I felt two years ago this was a bit of an exhibition, but I was mistaken. A lot of us were. This is a very competitive game and, especially having lost last time, we'd like to win this time."

Such a view was underscored by both Harrington and Clarke, two of three Irish players - along with Paul McGinley - in the Britain and Ireland team. "Once you get on the first tee you want to play your heart out," observed Harrington, while Clarke claimed "there is a lot of pride involved. It will be more competitive than you might imagine."

All three Irishmen have been included in today's opening session of greensomes matches, although it is unlikely all three will figure in all five matches. In fact, Harrington is nursing a foot injury, a legacy of Augusta, which doesn't interfere with his swing but does affect him when walking. However, after the adrenalin rush of last week's fifth-place finish in the Masters, the Dubliner doesn't believe this will allow him to unwind. "We don't want to come down. We want to play real golf and do our utmost to win."

For the opening greensomes, where players tee-off and then chose the best-placed ball before proceeding to play alternate shots, Harrington has been paired with McGinley, with whom he won the World Cup in 1997. It's a pairing that could be renewed in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry later in the year and Europe's captain Sam Torrance, here as an official observer, will no doubt keep an eager eye on their partnership. In the greensomes, Harrington and McGinley face Mathias Gronberg and Alex Cejka, while Clarke has been paired with Lee Westwood against French pair Raphael Jacquelin and Thomas Levet.

While Ballesteros has decided to sit out the morning matches, Montgomerie has teamed-up with his old Ryder Cup partner Paul Lawrie for the match against Thomas Bjorn and Robert Karlsson. Ian Woosnam and Steve Webster will meet Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

The Seve Trophy is the first event to be held in Ireland this season as part of the Government's international sports tourism initiative. Six others - the Irish Women's Open, the AIB Irish Seniors Open, the Murphy's Irish Open, the Smurfit European Open, the North West of Ireland Open and the American Express world championship - will also be staged, and Ballesteros commended the knowledge and support of Irish golf spectators. "I hope a lot will turn up here. Without people, it is like chicken without the sauce," said Ballesteros.

Indeed, despite the heavy rain of recent days, the Druids Glen course is in quite splendid condition - all of which should make for an interesting few days.

"High quality matchplay is something we don't get enough of," conceded Clarke. The odds, though, are that he will have something to celebrate come Sunday evening.