Galway will be on Mark James mind

Mark James will be keeping a careful eye on events in Galway this week as the race to qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup team comes down to the penultimate event.

James has the small matter of playing in the final major of the year at the USPGA at Medinah in Chicago to worry about, with his own chances of making the team not yet extinct.

But with points also up for grabs on this side of the Atlantic, Europe's skipper will be paying close attention to the West of Ireland Golf Classic.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington is the best-placed player in the field in Galway at 16th in the standings, and one of a handful of players in contention for an automatic qualifying place.

Yet he insists he does not want to know how close the battle to qualify is with two events remaining.

"I don't want to know how many points I have," said Harrington, who just missed out on a place at Valderrama in 1997 after finishing 12th in the table.

"I have a vague idea but I don't want to be looking at guys around me in the money list and worrying about how much money they are winning in the USPGA because at the end of the day they aren't getting in either unless they have a big week.

"If I win this week I still have to go and play just as well next week, that sums it up.

"No matter what I do here, I have to have a good finish in the final qualifying event, the BMW International Open in Munich.

"It's nice to play a tournament in Ireland and that's why I'm here.

"If it wasn't in Ireland I wouldn't be here. This week is the West of Ireland Golf Classic, next week is trying to qualify for the Ryder Cup."

With a top prize of only £41,000 this week - in the special event that has a field made up of European Tour and Challenge Tour players - even a victory for Harrington would not move him into the top 10.

But he knows a first win of the season would give him a great chance of making his Ryder Cup debut with a good finish in Munich, and a lesson with coach Bob Torrance in Glasgow on Monday could prove vital.

The next-ranked player below Harrington, Swindon's David Howell in 19th place, has been forced to withdraw, still suffering from a toe injury picked up last month.

But Costantino Rocca, Midlander John Bickerton and Ireland's Paul McGinley are still in with a chance of qualifying, with Rocca, in particular, desperate to retain his place on the team.

The popular Italian has played in the last three competitions, famously beating world number one Tiger Woods in the singles at Valderrama two years ago.

A finger injury - suffered when trying to open a bottle of wine with a knife last Christmas - has hampered his chances this season, but the 42-year-old has not given up hope after his fourth place finish at the Smurfit European Open.

"I need to win here and play very good next week, first or second minimum," Rocca said.

"I had the problem with my finger and lost my confidence and if that happens you can't make a good score.

"If you play well but miss the cut by one shot you wonder what is wrong.

"But I feel happy now with my game and that's the most important. If you're happy the good week is coming."