IN THE space of eight incredible days, Bernhard Langer - who yesterday claimed his second successive European Tour title when taking the Benson and Hedges International Open - has gone a long way to easing European captain Seve Ballesteros's "wild card" choices for the Ryder Cup match at Valderrama.
When Ballesteros launched his failed bid to increase his personal choices from two to four, the German was one of those cited as possibly requiring such a route to selection. But Langer, who has won more money on the European Tour than any other player, yesterday guaranteed his place when adding the International to his Italian Open title and moving up to second place in the Ryder Cup table with £329,090.
Given Langer's indication of the target required to make the team, there is the rather appetising, and realistic, prospect of two Irishmen being in Ballesteros's line up. Darren Clarke currently lies in seventh position while Padraig Harrington has moved up to 15th after his fourth place finish yesterday.
Although there are 14 remaining events on the PGA European Tour, including the British Open, and another two majors - the US Open and the US PGA - to count towards deciding the top ten automatic places in Europe's team, the first big money event of the season in Britain has helped provide a clearer indication of what is required to make the team.
Clarke, although slipping from fifth to seventh, now has £246,836 and is committed to "playing until I drop" to make the team, and Harrington - whose cheque for £35,000 lifted him to ninth place in the latest Order of Merit with season earnings of £97,039 - is in 15th place in the Ryder Cup table with £163,470. The Dubliner is £16,051 behind 11th placed Jose Maria Olazabal.
