Miguel-Angel Martin has been welcomed into the Ryder Cup fold, three weeks after being unceremoniously dumped from 10th qualifying position in the European table. Peace was declared yesterday after an hour-long meeting between the players and representatives of the Ryder Cup committee.

At San Roque, headquarters of the European team here on the Costa del Sol, Martin met with Ken Schofield, executive director of the European Tour, Richard Hills, Ryder Cup director and Pedro Cardelus, vice-president of the Spanish Golf Federation.

Schofield declined to issue a statement until this morning but Martin couldn't contain his delight. "It's over and I'm happy," said the 35year-old, whose chances of claiming a rightful place on the Ryder Cup team were effectively scuppered by a ruptured tendon in his left wrist.

He went on: "I'm here for the week - a member of the team. I'm even in the next room to Seve and I'm going to see him straight away. Everything is sorted out." Their meeting should have been rather interesting, given Ballesteros's scathing reference to "that little man," during the European Masters three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Cardelus, whose organisation were four-square behind the player from the start of a protracted rumpus, said: "Miguel-Angel is morally re-established in the team. He is now looking to the future rather than the past."

As to his current fitness, Martin went on to say that he had shot level par on his home course last Wednesday but was not yet sure whether he was ready to play in the German Masters in Berlin next week. Understandably, his immediate concern was that the Ryder Cup issue should be finalised this morning when his sponsors, Oki, will be in attendance.

A highly significant aspect of yesterday's disclosure was that there was no mention of any legal representation on either side. Given that Martin threatened to take the European Tour to court, it seems certain that a financial settlement has been reached.

It is also probable that matters would have been solved very much to Martin's satisfaction, given last week's unanimous decision by the European Tour's tournament committee. Under the chairmanship of Mark James, they censured the Ryder Cup committee for its treatment of the player.

Though the full facts of the situation may never be known, it is not unreasonable to estimate a payment of as much as £300,000 in compensation to the player for loss of potential earnings.