Golf News: - Posted 1st December 1997

Seve reveals his blueprint for the Ryder Cup

London - Seve Ballesteros has revealed a blueprint on the way he feels the next European Ryder Cup side should be selected.

Ballesteros resigned as captain after the victory at Valderrama in September because he said he would like to be in the team that goes to Brookline, Boston in 1999. His successor wont be named until next summer.

"There should be at least three wild-card selections," says Seve in the winter issue of Golf International.

"I think qualification should only be in the current year, not starting the previous September, and the top 15 in any tournament should be awarded points.

"It should not be done on money."

Ballesteros had only two wild cards this year but he made a plea for four. This request was turned down by Europe's Ryder Cup Committee, and but for Miguel Angel Martin's injury he would have been forced to omit either Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal or Jesper Parnevik.

Having the qualifying race over eight months rather than 12 would reduce the chances of an out-of-form player making the side, while rewarding only top-15 finishes tackles the problem of someone squeezing into the team through playing every single tournament.

The Americans have only two wild cards but issue points for top-10 finishes only and run their qualifying period over two seasons, with double points in the second year and in the Majors.

One possible change the Ryder Cup Committee are thought to be considering is to a system where some players in the team qualify via the world rankings.