If Nick Faldo learnt anything from observing Ian Woosnam's 2006 Ryder Cup captaincy from afar, it was that public relations in the build-up to the match is almost as important as tactical acumen.

Woosnam kept Europe's players at arm's length and it led, ultimately, to a mighty outburst from Thomas Björn, who was furious to find out through television that he had not been selected for the team.

Faldo is determined not to make the same mistake - although with Woosnam's team winning by a record-equalling margin at the K Club, the pre-match turmoil was soon forgotten - and this week the 2008 captain brought together the 19 European players competing at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship here.

The message for old hands (among them Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey) and new hands (Martin Kaymer, Daniel Chopra and Bradley Dredge) alike was that Faldo is pursuing an open-door policy.

“He didn't talk about qualifying, but he said that if we had any thoughts we should just come and talk to him rather than waiting for him to mind read what everybody is thinking,” Harrington, a certainty for the team, said.

Robert Karlsson was particularly pleased. “I really appreciate that he had taken the time to let us know, especially the younger and more inexperienced players, that if we need any help from him, he's there,” he said. “The fact that he's reaching out and opening up to us is very important.”

Faldo, who is covering the tournament as a television analyst, was encouraged by what he saw on the first day of competition when ten Europeans, seven of them from Britain and Ireland, advanced to the next round. By yesterday, however, only Casey, Montgomerie and Henrik Stenson, the defending champion, had made it through to the third round.

“I thought the meeting was a very good opportunity because we haven't had the chance of a get-together since the Seve Trophy [last September],” Faldo said.

The captain, determined not to pick out any players for special mention, was nonetheless encouraged by Montgomerie.

“He was very good against Charles Howell III in the second round and we all know he loves matchplay,” Faldo said. “He has a great chance now to gain a big leap on the rest of the guys, to make life easy for himself for the rest of the season.

“But I'm not picking out Monty, or anyone else, because that would not be fair,” he added. “It might boost a player, but can be taken negatively by others. We've got at least 24 guys going for 12 spots. There's going to be a sweat line from eight to 15 who are going to be jostling for position. I might pick two on the bubble [11th and 12th in the rankings] or use other things to decide my picks.”

One sign of the times was that only two bottles of wine (the wild-card picks of Miguel Ángel Jiménez) were drunk at the get-together. “Jiménez and I were the only ones drinking,” Faldo said. “That wouldn't have happened ten years ago, they're all drinking water now.”