With a remarkably mature assessment, the most celebrated Ryder Cup rookie to arrive in Europe since Jack Nicklaus, captured the very essence of the biennial showpiece here yesterday. "At this level, it takes courage to play matchplay in which anyone can win," said Tiger Woods.

Not that the 21-year-old has any doubts about his ability to spearhead an American attempt at winning back the trophy. Indicative of the sort of play we may anticipate from Woods next weekend was the manner in which he reduced the 535-yard fourth to a drive, five iron and two putts from 12 feet.

Granted, that was downwind. But he seemed to have little difficulty in keeping the ball in play, despite the ubiquitous cork oaks and punishing, Bermuda rough. And later on, he even succeeded in defusing a potentially embarrassing situation for the PGA of America, regarding his father, Earl.

When asked what he felt about his father being denied special status here - on a par with a wife or girlfriend - Woods replied: "Not too many 21-year-olds make this team and sure, my mum and dad were upset at not being able to join me."

He went on: "The policy regarding parents has been changed in the Walker Cup because players are getting younger all the time. So my father thought it would be fair if either he or my mum were in the official party. It certainly would have been nice to have them here to support me, but I understand the way things have worked out."

These comments from Woods were more than likely rehearsed, in anticipation of the question. Indeed the American party, starting with their skipper Tom Kite, appeared to be ultra-careful not to do or say anything controversial. This is certainly not going to be a repeat of the infamous "War on the Shore" of 1991.

Was Kite conscious of the diplomatic demands being made on Ryder Cup captains in recent years? "Political correctness is what we call it over in our country and yes, I am aware of it," he replied. "Throughout my career, I have never tried to offend anybody and my approach will be the same to this situation."

In the first practice session, the emphasis was on fourball play in which the American pairings were: Davis Love and Fred Couples; Brad Faxon and Justin Leonard; Woods and Mark O'Meara; Lee Janzen and Scott Hoch; Phil Mickelson and Tom Lehman and Jim Furyk and Jeff Maggert.

Lehman, conqueror of Ballesteros in the top singles at Oak Hill, was especially pleased to have been paid for his work in an event in which the players take pride in giving their services free. Granted it was a modest return. "I won $120 from Furyk," he said with some relish.

The European pairings, also in fourballs, were: Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie; Costantino Rocca and Jose-Maria Olazabal; Nick Faldo and Ignacio Garrido; Per-Ulrik Johansson and Jesper Parnevik; Bernhard Langer and Thomas Bjorn; Ian Woosnam and Lee Westwood.

Ballesteros was extremely active out on the course, to the extent that very little escaped his notice. For instance, when he saw Woosnam hit a wayward drive behind a tree, he went over to the Welshman and remonstrated light-heartedly: "Who do you think you are, me?"

Later, the European skipper was asked if he was concerned about the recent "disappointing" form of Olazabal (who, incidentally, hasn't missed a cut all season and was 31st in the BMW International and 30th in last Sunday's British Masters). "He had five birdies in the first seven holes today: yes, I am very disappointed," was the heavily ironic reply.

In the event, entirely new pairings will be in action today. They are: Johansson and Parnevik; Faldo and Westwood; Woosnam and Langer; Rocca and Olazabal; Bjorn and Montgomerie; Garrido and Clarke. The form of Langer, who birdied the first three holes, is also very encouraging on a course clearly suited to his precise iron-play and excellent short game.

Meanwhile, the rival captains appear to have a genuine respect for each other and are clearly working towards a sporting battle, however intense the actual competition may be. Kite was even dismissive of the change of format which was foisted upon him, whereby play will commence with fourballs on Friday rather than the traditional foursomes.

"It really doesn't make any difference to me," he said. "I think Seve had the idea that he will be better able to judge how his players are performing if they are in fourballs early in the day. If that's how he feels, that's fine with me."

The American skipper was also delighted with Valderrama, which he refused to accept as an American-style course. "There is no doubt that the driving areas are tight, but I don't see courses like this in the US," he said. "In fact I wish we had a few like it in my country."

He went on: "From what I have seen of it, I can also understand why Seve would want the wind to blow as hard as possible. Sure, my players can handle the wind in normal circumstances, but with the Europeans' knowledge of the course, those sort of conditions would obviously suit them."

Not surprisingly, Woods has cropped up in most of the interview sessions so far. Ballesteros, for instance, in one of his more expansive moods, insisted that any of his 12 players was capable of beating the American.

When this was put to the player himself, he had the humility to reply: "That's true. And it is also true that the 12 Americans can beat any of his players."

Woods went on: "I love matchplay - always have. I've had a lot of experience of experience through USGA championships and through the Walker Cup (in which he lost a singles to Gary Wolstenholme). In fact, I would prefer matchplay to medal play. A stroke-play tournament doesn't really start until the back nine on Sunday afternoon. This week, we'll be experiencing that pressure on the first tee."

In fact, his only criticism concerned the notorious, 511-yard 17th, where it would require a carry of 340 yards to clear the 20-yard belt of rough separating the two stretches of fairway. Not even Woods can achieve that amount of carry with the driver, even downwind.

"The hole doesn't really reward a good drive," he said, having driven into the rough yesterday. "Some guys can drive the ball 300 yards, no problem, but it's going to put them into the rough. I can't agree with that."

In general terms, however, this dynamic debutante is clearly a tremendous addition to the event. As Kite put it: "Everybody's excited he's here." Even the most committed Europeans fans wouldn't quibble with that.