Ryder Cup captains play key role

From the frenzied captaincy of Seve Ballesteros to the serene faith of Ben Crenshaw, from post-Gulf War apparel to a speech from the President-elect -- Ryder Cup inspiration can take many guises.

This year's event will be no different as someone or something will emerge that lifts one team to somehow perform at new levels.

When the United States were sweeping to relentless, easy victories during the 1960s and 70s they hardly needed the shadow of Jack Nicklaus hovering above the field -- though his very presence gave his team something of an impregnable aura.

It was not until Tony Jacklin took over as European captain in 1983 that things began to change and the era of the inspirational leader was born.

Jacklin's biggest contribution was to persuade Ballesteros to return to the team when he had vowed never to play again after being overlooked in 1981.

The other impact of Jacklin's appointment was his insistence on major changes to the way the European team ran their affairs -- starting with them flying Concorde to the United States.

They lost the match by a point but the die had been cast -- a team captained by Jacklin would no longer slink into town to accept a beating and would henceforth be a force to be reckoned with.

Two years later, Europe famously triumphed at The Belfry, inflicting a first defeat in 28 years on the Americans, with Jacklin installed as a national hero.

By 1987, Ballesteros was the driving force of the team and that year he began his partnership with 21-year-debutant Jose Maria Olazabal.

The two Spaniards had quickly developed an almost tangible power in tandem and won three of their four matches together. They would go on to win 11 and halve two of 15 in a glorious run.

Ballesteros also won his singles, his victory over this year's captain Curtis Strange securing a first-ever victory on American soil.

A tie in 1989 made it three Cups in a row for Europe and so by 1991 the Americans were itching to get their hands back on the trophy.

The recently completed Gulf War appeared the pick-up they needed, as riding a wave of patriotism -- with camouflaged caps to boot -- they triumphed in the 'War on the Shore' at Kiawah Island.

Ballesteros the player became Ballesteros the captain in 1997 and he took the job to a new plane as his homeland hosted the competition for the first time.

The Spaniard covered every inch of the Valderrama course during three days of furious buggy driving as he tried to encourage, cajole and sometimes berate every one of his players.

Some were not pleased by his apparent urge to have an input on just about every shot played but overall the effect was to galvanize the Europeans into another one-point victory.

Since no invitation was forthcoming to attend this time round in any official capacity, the veteran is not at The Belfry, preferring to stay away and watch on TV.

Crenshaw's approach in 1999 could not have been more different from Ballesteros in his heyday as the widely respected American captain calmly went about lifting his players with a display of pure faith.

When trailing 10-6 going into the final day Crenshaw, a great student of golf history, announced that fate would take a hand and that he had "a good feeling about this."

To back his hunch he called in George W. Bush to address the players on the Saturday night and they responded with the greatest recovery in Ryder Cup history to win the trophy, 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

Three years later, it's up for grabs again -- as is the role of inspirer-in-chief.

European captain Sam Torrance, whose putt secured the 1985 win, looks a likely candidate as he alternates between tears and beaming smiles at an event he clearly loves with all his heart.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, the two most experienced players in his team, can anchor it but most Europeans are looking to exhilarating Spaniard Sergio Garcia to lead the charge.

United States fans are waiting for Tiger Woods to unleash his immense talent on to a competition on which he has had little impact in his two previous appearances while world number two Phil Mickelson, a lover of matchplay and with a perfect three out of three singles record, is another leader-in-waiting.

Perhaps the quiet dignity and perfect preparation of Strange will ease his team to victory.

However, come Sunday night, maybe it will be a rookie such as Niclas Fasth or Stewart Cink who will be basking in glory as another name joins the long list of Ryder Cup heroes.