VIVENDI TROPHY: PAUL McGINLEY believes there was a "75-25" chance of Seve Ballesteros flying to Paris this weekend and being present at a European Tour event for the first time since the discovery of a brain tumour last October.
What used to be called the Seve Trophy is now the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros (Sky Sports 2, 10.30am-4.30pm), and Britain and Ireland captain McGinley said nothing could lift the match against Continental Europe more than to have the Spanish superstar in attendance.
But even if he does not feel well enough after after his recent bout of radiotherapy, Ballesteros’ impact has already been felt.
A message sent to the 20 players was read to them by McGinley, who said: “It’s quite an emotional letter and there was a lot of thought that went into it.
“A lot of points he made were not just about golf, but about life and the position we hold in life – how lucky we are to be who we are and doing what we are doing.
“And to enjoy it, because time flies very quickly.
“If you can bring his spirit into the team I think that’s all I want to add to the week. Inspiration was the word.
“He’s a special person and has done a huge amount for the European Tour, as everybody knows. He wants to leave a legacy and the Seve Trophy is something that he really believes in.
“I spoke to him twice last week and he will do everything he can to be here. He said he is playing the toughest tournament of his life – and he also said he will win.”
Thomas Bjorn, who captains Continental Europe, added: “I don’t think we can say enough about him as for what he’s done for all of us as players and for the tour.
“If there is a father figure of this tour, certainly from a players’ perspective, it lands on his shoulders. And when it comes to team events, there’s not a person that epitomises them more than Seve Ballesteros.”
The bookmakers have Bjorn’s side as favourites because they are lacking only two of their stars, Sergio Garcia and the injured Martin Kaymer.
McGinley is having to make do without six players who could have played. Paul Casey is still recovering from his rib muscle problem, and Pádraig Harrington and Luke Donald are at the Tour Championship in America, while Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose wanted to rest.
That makes Rory McIlroy their top-ranked player – and he insists he never thought of missing it.
McIlroy, who partners fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell in this morning’s opening fourball against Soren Kjeldsen and Alvaro Quiros, stated: “I’m very excited.
“It’s my first team event as a pro and I’m looking forward to playing under Paul. I was always going to play if I made the team.
“When you get into weeks like this it makes you realise how special team golf is. It’s a lot of fun and you want to do your best for the others as well as yourself.”
Vivendi Trophy - the lowdown
Schedule
Today: Five fourball matches
Friday: Five fourball matches.
Saturday (morning):Four greensome matches.
Saturday (afternoon):Four foursome matches.
Sunday: 10 singles matches.
Venue: Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche Golf Club, Paris.
Course: Par 71 (6,919 yards, 6,326 metres)
Formats
Fourballs: Two players team up to take on their respective opponents, and each competitors plays his own ball throughout the round. The player with the lowest score, or better ball, at each hole wins the hole for his team.
Foursomes: Two golfers team up and play alternate shots to complete a hole against their opponents. Each player takes his turn to tee off at alternate holes. The two-person team with the lowest score wins the hole.
Greensomes: Similar to foursomes, except in greensomes both players tee off at each hole before deciding the best shot to take, then complete the hole in alternate shots.
Singles: The most straightforward matchplay situation where one player is pitted against another and the person with the lowest score at a hole wins.
Scoring: As with the majority of matchplay formats, a player or team wins when they have won more holes than there are holes left to play. Matches can be "halved", when neither player/team have won more aggregate holes than their opponent. No extra holes are played.
Today’s Draw – Fourballs
10.35: S Kjeldsen (Den), A Quiros (Spa) v G McDowell (N Ire), R McIlroy (N Ire).
10.50: H Stenson (Swe), R Karlsson (Swe) v A Wall (Eng), C Wood (Eng).
11.05: S Hansen (Den), P Hanson (Swe) v S Dyson (Eng), O Wilson (Eng).
11.20: A Hansen (Den), F Molinari (Ita) v R Rock (Eng), S Webster (Eng).
11.35: MA Jimenez (Spa), G Fernandez-Castano (Spa) v R Fisher (Eng), N Dougherty (Eng).
