SPANISH eyes were smiling in Madrid yesterday when US Ryder Cup captain Tom Kite declared his determination to be a playing member of the team that will try to take the trophy out of European hands, at Valderrama next September.

Kite is currently 78th in his country's Ryder Cup standings but that has not dimmed his ambition to be the first US playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

His European counterpart, Seve Ballesteros, has already signified his intention to try to play his way into his team, and is also considering picking himself.

Yesterday Kite put forward a similar proposition, and the inference was clear: he would not mind tangling once again with Ballesteros, with whom he had a stirring contest in the 1985 match at The Belfry. That ended all square after the Spaniard birdied the 14th, 15th and 17th to retrieve a three hole deficit.

Both men are in the Spanish capital this week to play in the Oki Pro Am starting at La Moraleja today, a late addition to the European qualifying programme. But the principal purpose of the Texan's first visit to Spain since 1970 is to reconnoitre Valderrama next week, and inspect facilities.

"It would be an honour for both of us to make the team as player and captain," Kite said, "although both of us need to get our games into shape. I can assure you that anyone who has made as many matches as we have wants to be part of the action, although it be an entirely different proposition to when Arnold was playing captain, and Dai Rees did the same for Great Britain and Ireland in 1961."

Irish eyes, those that are not glued to events at St Andrews, will be on Des Smyth, back in the city where he won his last tournament three years ago, and Waterville's David Higgins, for whom worries about a 1997 Tour place are over.

Here both can concentrate on trying to win a major share of a prize fund of £450,000 which offers a top award of £75,000 and commensurate Ryder points.

The Tour card cut off point this year is 117th place which is currently held by Swede Niclas Fasth with £43,695. Among those trying to get past him are Michael Campbell, who withdrew from New Zealand's Alfred Dunhill Cup team to seek salvation in Spain. He is in 125th place in the merit list.

For Milltown's Francis Howley nothing less than a top six place will suffice to raise him from his current ranking of 149th with £28,865, to hold his card.

For Cork's John McHenry in 176th place with £15,088 it has to be first or second place, worth £50,000 to retain his card.