Players happy to stick with 2001 teams

One of the anomalies of next week's Ryder Cup is that Europe and the United States will be fielding teams selected more than a year ago.

This appears to contradict a key ingredient of team selection in sport -- picking players who are in form -- but there has been widespread agreement from members on both sides that this was the best decision.

The events of September 11 forced the postponement of the Ryder Cup by 12 months, with the PGA of America and the European Ryder Cup board agreeing to retain the same teams and captains.

"I think that (retaining the teams) was the first thing to do," said Spaniard Sergio Garcia before Thursday's first round of the week's WGC-American Express Championship at Mount Juliet.

"Those players deserve to play in the Ryder Cup. Unfortunately, it was postponed, but I think that those guys really played well enough to be on the team and they should play on the team."

The 22-year-old Garcia, who will be playing in his second Ryder Cup, added that the decision to switch the biennial competition from its traditional odd to even years was already a significant one for the players.

"I think that change was big enough," he said.

World number one Tiger Woods agreed both teams should be retained from last year, saying that golf now had to be viewed very differently after September 11.

"I think that's the way it should be," he said. "You have to understand that it's probably not the best two teams we could have assembled, but then again who really cares?

"After September 11, it puts things in perspective real quick for you."

Hardly surprisingly, individual form has fluctuated a great deal for both Europe and the U.S. since the 2001 Ryder Cup sides were first picked.

Only three players on either team have won titles so far this season -- Garcia, Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke for Europe and Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk for the U.S.

But Woods does not regard this as much of a problem.

"I think a lot of the time it helps if you are playing well going into an event but, when you're in a team event, it can turns things around for you," he said.

"It can inspire you to have team mates around you -- we've seen that in the past. Hopefully, both sides will be that way.

"But it can go both ways and I've had it both ways in the Ryder Cup. I've played well and played poorly going in there -- and I've had mixed results."

For Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who will be playing in his second Ryder Cup, the biggest challenge for the players over the past 12 months has been having to live up to their 2001 selection.

"It's unfortunate they have to spend a year proving something that was already done," said the Dubliner. "There's nothing worse every time you tee it up proving you're a Ryder Cup player.

"People have been judging every round they play if they're ready for the Ryder Cup, which could be eight or nine months away. It puts a lot of pressure on the guys.

"But I think, when they get there, they're going to be fine. They'll rise to the occasion."

The 34th Ryder Cup, being staged at The Belfry for the fourth time, starts Friday.