Sam Torrance has revealed there will definitely be changes to the qualification process for the next European Ryder Cup team.

Torrance's victorious team at The Belfry in September was made up of 10 automatic qualifiers from the European Order of Merit-based points table, and two wild cards.

However, with more of Europe's top players spending time on the USPGA tour, many leading figures - including 2006 captaincy candidates Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie - are in favour of changes.

The most likely option is for five players to be taken from the Order of Merit and five from the world rankings, with two wild cards.

Torrance is a member of the European Tour's tournament committee which discussed the proposals earlier this week, and he said yesterday: "I can assure you there will be changes and it will benefit our team.

"I had to leave out Jose Maria Olazabal to pick the world number five, Sergio Garcia. That can't be right.

"With so many now playing over there (America), you really need more from the world rankings."

Montgomerie and Faldo have also issued a joint call for team selection to be based on worldwide performances rather than just the European money list.

Faldo, hoping to win his way back into the team after missing last year's success at The Belfry, would even go for 10 players from the world list. "I like the idea that wherever the guy plays he is getting points," he said.

He would not be against 10 selections from the world rankings but acknowledged that there would be objections from European regulars.

"They have to protect the European Tour. The middle-ranking guys have a tough time but if you're not in the top 50 you are not playing the major events, the loaded events," added Faldo.

Montgomerie agreed: "I think it's important that if somebody like Justin Rose goes off to Japan and wins a tournament, against a European tournament, he should get points for what he has achieved there against possibly a tougher field.

"It's important that that win is somehow incorporated into the Ryder Cup points list." But he added: "You always have to leave open the option of at least two picks.

"Even if you go for the five-five you need the option of a couple. It gives the captain the choice to pick those who come up in the last month or so and also to go for who he thinks will work as a partnership."

While both Faldo and Montgomerie have their designs on leading the team at the K Club in 2006, both want to be part of the side for 2004.

Torrance's successor as captain is likely to be decided in late summer, with Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam the two likely leading candidates.

"It's between Woosie and Bernhard," speculated Faldo. "I think they might want to come to a gentleman's agreement. Perhaps one will play and the other will lead the team depending on how things are going by then. I'm sure it will happen by next September."

Meanwhile, lightning and heavy rain suspended play at the Okinawa Open, preventing competitors from completing the first round at the opening event of the 2003 Asian PGA Tour.

Play was stopped two and a half hours after the first group started their round at the Southern Links Golf Club before officials decided to abandon play four hours later.

The $833,000 event could be reduced to 54 holes since no player was able to complete the opening round.

The first round will resume today with Japan's Jumbo Ozaki leading the field at three under par after six holes.

Yusaka Miyazato was second at two under par after seven holes while India's Jyoti Randhawa was one under par after seven holes.