Seve’s team talk

Seve has sent an emotional message of support to both Ryder Cup teams on the even of the 2010 clash at Celtic Manor. He spoke via phone on Tuesday evening, wishing both captains luck. Speaking on his website, http://www.seveballesteros.com, he says:

Dear friends, This week, The Ryder Cup starts. I will follow the matches and I am sure we will watch great golf during the weekend.

I had a very exiting conversation this last Tuesday with Captain Colin Montgomerie and all the team. It was great to have a chat with all of them and talk about this week. I really felt team spirit in that conversation, and I am confident Europe will do very well this week. They are all great champions.

I miss the competition and especially the Ryder Cup, but I will follow the matches on tv. It’s not going to be easy, but the more difficult it is to win, the sweeter victory will taste.

Here are some of my views on the tournament this year.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE

I believe Colin is the best European Captain we could have this week. He has always been a true leader in and out of the course. He knows better than anyone else how to put on him all the pressure and free his players from it. He has an enormous leadership capacity and I am sure Monty will indulge, look after and instruct the European team.
The toughest part for the present and past editions were the foursomes. This might possibly be the key of the event.
Friday will be the start to the competition and I think that Monty will place all his players at stake save for unexpected situations which only he will be able to assess.
Despite six rookies on the team, Monty has a very good, competitive and talented group of champions, and I am sure he will take the best options to lead the team and win this year’s Ryder Cup. We are in good hands.

THE US TEAM

Tiger Woods has not been doing good this season and neither has Phil Mickelson.
For the public to see the seemingly weakness of the US stars could give the wrong idea that things could be easier for the Europeans. That is a mistake. This is match play and this format is where anything can happen. Besides, in the inside, each of the ten American players are given a more important role specially to those like Jim Furyk who is an experienced and skilled player in this competition.
In 2008 Tiger was out of the competition due to an injury and the US TEAM displayed his best team spirit and not just as a sum of individualities. Corey Pavin knows about this.

THE ROOKIES

This is a Ryder Cup full of rookies. Europe has six and USA has five. Some of them like Rory McIlroy looks like has been playing Ryder Cups ever since. At last year’s Seve Trophy in France he achieved 4,5 points from 5. He is an outstanding golfer. Same goes for Martin Kaymer who has won his first big competition. From all the newly comers, I believe that the two mentioned are those who will feel the pressure less.

Rookie does not mean he has a secondary role. During the week, the most experienced players will be there to protect them and upon playing the Friday matches, they will already have learned some lessons about the Ryder Cup. The most recent case is Hunter Mahan who played in Valhalla on 2008. He played every match and did not miss even one. He summed up 3,5 points to the team score. A fact: he is the only player with a positive balance – more wins than defeats in the US team.

WESTWOOD

Westwood and Harrington two great players with a huge experience. They will be of vital importance to the team. Lee’s recovery on the last few years is wonderful. Specially his behavior at the Majors. I have no doubt he will win majors very soon. Though he has just recovered from an injury he has two amazing challenges ahead of him within the next three weeks: join the group of players that have summed up 20 points in the Ryder Cup or even more, among them are Faldo, Montgomerie, Langer, Olazabal, Casper, Palmer, Trevino and myself and to become the World number one in Portugal. All he has learned in his Ryder Cups, Seve Trophies and Royal Trophies will prove very useful to him during this week.

SERGIO GARCIA

His appointment as vice-captain reminds me of Miguel Angel Jimenez’s role at my side in Valderrama in 1997. Sergio’s case is a bit different given that Miguel Angel hadn´t had any Ryder Cup experience before that time when he helped me at Valderrama 97. I would very much want to see Sergio as a team member this year but in golf as in life there are ups and downs and at this point he cannot be at the course as he would liked to. Maybe the dreams, the excitement of wishing to do a team mate’s shot will help him in the future. I have always seen Sergio as a great golf player and I am sure that once he feels alright he will not only be a playing member of the Ryder Cup team but he will continue to give huge excitement to Spanish golf.

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ

He is the only Spanish player in the European team. I am happy for him. I have good memories of Miguel Angel from the 1997 Ryder Cup and the great experience he has had, both in the Ryder Cup and match play events, will surely help him this week. Miguel Angel is a very important player for the European team. He will provide experience and tranquility to the team. I wish him all the best of luck as well as the other team members.

THE PUBLIC

The atmosphere at the Ryder Cup is absolutely electrifying. Wales will house this competition for the first time ever and there will be an enthusiastic public though very respectful as in every other confrontation between Europe and United States. I love British public and once again I wish to thank them for choosing me as the best captain in the Ryder Cup history. British people have always showed me a huge affection which is reciprocal. I really love them. It is an honor and it gives me strength to continue fighting for my health and trying to bring back the Ryder Cup to Madrid in 2018.