Golf: Ballesteros takes Cup back seat

Seve Ballesteros, never one to admit defeat lightly, seems to have finally bowed to the inevitable in order to give Europe the best chance of retaining the Ryder Cup at Valderrama in September. Ballesteros is virtually certain will be strictly a non-playing captain. At present, he is simply not a match for Europe's emerging talent, such as Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn.

The Spaniard would have to have been one wild card short of a full team to pick himself and combine playing with captaincy. His predecessor, Bernard Gallacher, for one, thought it impossible. But by refusing to rule himself out until the team are finalised on 31 August, Ballesteros merely fuelled speculation.

In truth, the proud champion that he is, Ballesteros needed the stimulus of attempting to maintain a place as one of the top-12 European golfers to help reverse the worst form of his career. His decision may signal the fact that his playing will take a back seat for the moment.

Yesterday, in his first round since his back troubles forced him out of the Volvo PGA six weeks ago, Ballesteros shot a four-over 75 in the Irish Open, 10 shots behind the leader Westwood. The 24-year-old from Worksop established a course record here to lead by one from another young player who could confirm his Ryder Cup place this week, Denmark's Bjorn.

Steven Richardson, who made his first cut this year at the 16th attempt last week at the French Open, was among those on four under and the defending champion, Colin Montgomerie, was happy with his 68.

"The way I am playing, it would not be fair to pick myself unless things change dramatically," Ballesteros said. "It seems to me not possible to play and be the captain, and to do a good job. Unless there is a miracle, I will not be playing.

"I didn't think there would be so much talk about the Ryder Cup when I took the job. It has been difficult because I have been struggling with my game. There are always questions about my back and my swing. It is nice people care to ask, but I don't want to talk about my back any more. Today my 75 was the best score I could have done. I've just got no rhythm."

It was indeed full of much Ballesteros brilliance around the greens, but his long game left little to talk about.

Instead, there were further compliments for Westwood. Nick Faldo, who made a solid start with a 69, played a practice round prior to the US Open with Westwood and found himself 30 yards behind off the tee.

"Lee is maturing all the time. Once he learns to win a bit more he's going to be a dominant force in European golf," Faldo said.

Learning from defeat was the key, Faldo said, although Westwood has little to forgive himself in his near misses this season, losing to Jose Maria Olazabal in the Canaries, Bernhard Langer at The Oxfordshire and Montgomerie at Slaley Hall.

His start yesterday was breathtaking: a seven-iron to 12 feet at the 10th, a four-iron to four for an eagle at the 11th, an eight-iron to 15 at the 12th and a wedge to two feet at the 14th.

IRISH OPEN (Druids Glen, Co Wicklow) Leading first-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 65 L Westwood; 66 T Bjorn (Den); 67 R McFarlane, S Richardson; 68 D Gilford, C Montgomerie, R Allenby (Aus), R Davis (Aus); 69 N Faldo, R Chapman, K Vainola (Fin), C Rocca (It), MA Jimenez (Sp); 70 R Lee, W Westner (SA), P Price, G Evans, P Baker, A Binaghi (It), E Darcy, R Muntz (Neth); 71 D Cooper, D Lee, D Carter, D Chopra (Swe), E O'Connell, J Mellor, P Harrington, S Torrance, M Florioli (It), M Anglert (Swe), M Roe, D Howell, I Woosnam, M Gronberg (Swe), A Forsbrand (Swe), A Sherborne, K Eriksson (Swe); 72 P McGinley, R Rafferty, D Tapping, D Cole

(Aus), P Lawrie, V Phillips, S Henderson, J Coceres (Arg), R Green (Aus), N Fasth (Swe), D Clarke, D Borrego (Sp), E Romero (Arg), M Jonzon (Swe), J Lomas, P Hedblom (Swe), J Payne, G Clark, F Howley, K Tomori (Japan); 73 J Wade (Aus), I Garbutt, B Lane, P O'Malley (Aus), T Johnstone (Zim), R Wessels (SA), D McGrane, P Haugsrud (Nor), G Brand Jnr, D Smyth, R Drummond, A Oldcorn, M Tunnicliff, B Davis, M Goggin (Aus), M Mackenzie, M Olander (Swe); 74 J L Guepy (Fr), R Willison, B May (US), JM Olazabal (Sp), G Orr, JC Pinero (Sp), P Mitchell, M Davis, G Murphy, A Hansen (Den), W Riley (Aus), S Hurley, J Sandelin (Swe), MA Martin (Sp), A Cabrera (Arg), J Hawkes (SA), C Watts, A Sandywell; 75 J Heggarty, A Coltart, S Ballesteros (Sp), R Russell, S Scahill (NZ), I Feliu (Sp), E Canonica (It), B Langer (Ger), D Hospital (Sp), P Teravainen (US), M Gates, C Mason, S Webster.