European Tour:It is, as Padraig Harrington describes it, a time for a changing of the guard on the European Tour. On Wednesday evening, in a Q&A session at the pro-am dinner on the eve of the 1.3 million Abu Dhabi Championship, the British Open champion turned prophet and predicted that Europe's Ryder Cup team for the defence of the trophy in Kentucky come September could have as many as six newcomers.
Yesterday, in the shadow of the magnificent clubhouse that is constructed in the shape of an eagle, and on a pristine course that had only benefited from the unseasonal rain which doused it earlier in the week, his words were shown to be far from idle.
One of those likely lads, Germany's Martin Kaymer, assumed the first round lead in the tournament with an opening round of six-under-par 66, a stroke better than Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who intends to reduce his schedule this season and has dropped his US Tour membership to focus more on the European Tour.
Kaymer, only 23, was rookie of the year on tour last season and has been saddled with great expectations. On this evidence, he is very much up to the task.
Once upon a time, as a teenager, Kaymer toyed with the dream of pursuing a career as a footballer, but, when forced to chose between his sporting passions, he decided on golf and his learning curve has been one of Germanic precision ever since.
Of the increased pressure on him to do well, Kaymer - who opened his round yesterday with an eagle, hitting a rescue club approach to six feet - claimed: "I feel the pressure, but it motivates me in a positive way.
"But I'm not thinking about the Ryder Cup, to be honest. My goal for the season, as it was last year, is to keep my card. If I make the Ryder Cup team, it would be nice. If not, I'm not expecting it."
Kaymer, though, is one those players Harrington expects will pitch strongly for a place on Nick Faldo's team.
Of the winds of change in the European locker-room, Harrington elaborated: "I just think there will be fewer established players on the team and fewer household names. When you consider the two guys leading on the world ranking points table (Justin Rose and Daniel Chopra) are both rookies, then they are likely to almost certainly make the team. And, usually, it is off the world list where the established players get to make the team. I wouldn't be surprised if there were up to six newcomers on the team."
Yet, for Paul McGinley, any talk of the Ryder Cup is far too soon. "Everyone runs their race at a different pace. I proved that in Detroit when I came from nowhere and had a hot run in the middle of the summer when the money was big and took advantage of it," said the Dubliner, who joined Harrington and Darren Clarke in opening round with a 72.
As far as this tournament is concerned, Harrington was satisfied with a level par 72. In fact, the highlight came with his finish, a rescue club approach of 223 yards to six feet on the ninth (he started on the back nine) which repaired some of the damage inflicted on his round by back-to-back bogeys on the seventh and eighth, which he put down to a lapse in focus.
"I'm hoping I can build as the tournament progresses. I'm later in my preparations and I just haven't spent enough time on the putting green and I just haven't spent enough time hitting bunker shots and things like that. It shows up when you get a card in your hand, and it did today. But, hopefully, I will get better as the week goes on.
"The goal was always to try and get better with each day, to get better and maybe get into position on Sunday afternoon and be feeling good in that position. I haven't shot myself in the foot, I'm not too far away," said Harrington, who incurred four bogeys in his round which he attributed to "very much early-season stuff".
If someone like Harrington, or, for that matter, Clarke or McGinley, is to make a move, it will require good play. No fewer than 38 players, all under par, are ahead of them.
Kaymer's advantage is just one shot over Stenson, with Robert Karlsson and Adam Scott a shot further adrift.
