Continental Europe have profile to win the Seve Trophy
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The team representing Continental Europe have the form and experience to win the Seve Trophy for just the second time, which will be helped by the fact the opposing team from Great Britain and Ireland are considerably weaker due to the absence of many players who have qualified for the matches.
Away from the main event, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Stephen Gallacher look like the leading contenders to score most points for their respective teams.
In the absence of Sergio Garcia Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano are the only Spanish players competing this week on the Saint-Nom La-Breteche course near Paris, hosting the event for the third time in succession. At less than 7000 yards the course is short by modern standards and there will be a premium on accuracy over distance. Finding the greens in the regulation number of shots and putting will be key skills.
Jimenez has played in four Ryder Cups and seven Seve Trophy’s and has winning form on the course. He won the now ceased Lancôme Trophy in1998 on the French track but he will also have a key role away from the course. Gallacher meanwhile, is a player that excels on courses that require straight hitting and given the non-appearance of the better British players looks a good bet to score most points for his side.
The matches are played in honour of the great Severiano Ballesteros, but the turnout in 2013 is disappointing on a number of levels, a snub to the memory of the great man and a lost opportunity to experience team golf.
Players qualify for the Seve Trophy by their position in the world rankings and Race to Dubai, but messers McIlroy, Rose, Poulter, Westwood and McDowell all refused invitations to compete. Fewer qualifiers from the European side declined to play and on balance that gives them a decent chance to add to their one win in the inaugural contest in 2000.
The trophy is played over four days between two teams of 10 players. The rules determine that everyone must play over the first two days of foursomes and fourballs, while nobody sits out the singles on the final day. The teams play for 28 points and in the last four renewals Great Britain and Ireland have won by at least three points.
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