Spaniards may be the deciding factor

The Spanish connection will play a huge part in deciding the outcome of the inaugural Seve Ballesteros Trophy which starts this Friday.

Great Britain and Ireland will play the Rest of the Europe in a Ryder Cup style tournament consisting of foursomes, fourballs, greensomes and singles over three-days on Sunningdale's Old Course, which celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Europe's No 1 Colin Montgomerie will captain Great Britain and Ireland and Spanish veteran Ballesteros, skipper of the successful European Ryder Cup side of 1997, will skipper the Rest of Europe.

Apart from Ballesteros, there are two other Spaniards in the Rest of Europe side - Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Since he turned pro Garcia has captured two titles and finished second to Tiger Woods in a Major. He also made his debut in the Ryder Cup and won the Dunhill Cup with Spain.

"I had a great experience at the Masters and I think I played really well. I was disappointed not to have done better. Garcia admitted he was having problems with his iron play but feels that he is beginning to show the form of last year. "At the beginning of year I was not hitting my irons very well but now I'm giving myself a lot of birdie chances. I'm just going to take my time and keep working."

"I've never played at Sunningdale before, but I've heard it's a great course. It's a little different coming from the heat of America but I don't mind it.

Olazabal’s failure to make cut at the Masters is further evidence of a dip in form since winning at Augusta last year, but he says he can regain his form: “I've been through situations like this before and with a little practice and time everything should come together," he said.

“Sometimes I feel in control of things and everything seems to be quite easy, then all of a sudden things change for the worse.

As for a British victory he said: "No way, I think they are going to struggle.”