THERE is a plaque on the right side of the 18th fairway at The Belfry marking the spot where Christy O’Connor Jr hit a career-defining two-iron to within four feet of the hole in 1989 to defeat Fred Couples and secure the Ryder Cup for Europe for the third time in succession.

It is impossible to visit The Belfry and not recall such great moments from the competition. Who could forget Sam Torrance standing saltire-like on the 18th green after sealing victory with a birdie in 1985, or Paul McGinley’s ten-foot putt for a match-winning half-point against Jim Furyk in 2002? Which is why, on the eve of the Quinn-direct British Masters over the same Brabazon course, talk turned towards the Ryder Cup and how this year’s Europe team are shaping up.

Of concern to Ian Woosnam, the captain, is the fact that many of Europe’s leading golfers are playing mostly in the United States and attempting to qualify for the team from world-ranking points garnered over a 12-month period.

Only five players can qualify in this way, together with five from the European Tour’s Order of Merit and two captain’s picks, which means that, on present reckoning, the likes of Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, all of them at The Belfry and all members of the team who won so convincingly in Detroit two years ago, could have to rely on a wild card.

With Woosnam saying that he would probably choose players who had remained loyal to the European Tour, some of the home team’s best players could find themselves surplus to requirements. One such is Westwood, a stalwart of the team, but who made it clear yesterday that he would not alter his plans to try to qualify.

“I am not prepared to change my schedule for the sake of playing one week’s golf,” he said. “I love playing in the Ryder Cup, but I am doing this for a living and I have years in the future to plan for. I set out my stall last year to give it a few years in America and I am sticking to that.

“I have a good record in the Ryder Cup and have won twice round the course they are playing it at [the K Club, near Dublin], but other people have similar credentials. Woosie will pick who he thinks is playing best at the time, but a lot happens through the summer and a lot can change.”

Rightly, Westwood pointed out that victory this week, next week at the Irish Open or the week after at the BMW Championship would almost guarantee a place in the team through the Order of Merit. Given a choice, though, he would prefer the team to be made up of the leading ten players off a world-ranking list and two captain’s picks, arguing that it is a Europe team and not a European Tour team who take on the US.

Much thought is also being given to the FA Cup Final on Saturday. With McGinley an avid West Ham United fan and Clarke and Thomas Björn Liverpool supporters, the three have a plan in place for a quick getaway (or rather, a 25-minute helicopter ride) that could get them to Cardiff in time for the kick-off, depending on the time they finish playing.

Poulter, an Arsenal fan, has also arranged a private plane for himself and six others to fly to Paris on the eve of the Irish Masters next week to watch the Champions League final against Barcelona. He is hoping to be given a late tee time the next day.

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