Faldo's coup as Ollie joins dream team

This doesn't preclude either from qualifying to play but does allow Faldo to tap into the thoughts and wisdom of two of the most respected men in the locker room.

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Easy Ryders: Nick Faldo (centre) with Jose Maria Olazabal (left) and Paul McGinley

"It is easy to forget that I haven't played in a Ryder Cup for 10 years and these players will bring me up to speed," said Faldo. "Paul plays mostly in Europe, Ollie in America, so they will be my eyes and ears on either side of the Atlantic and provide invaluable feedback."

Getting Olazabal on board was quite a coup for Faldo, given that he turned down similar requests from Sam Torrance in 2002 and Bernhard Langer in 2004.

"I guess I'm getting older," smiled Ollie before, like McGinley, reiterating his determination to be at Valhalla as a player, not a deputy.

This was Faldo's first press conference since taking on the role and it is clear already that his will be a different style of captaincy from his predecessor, Ian Woosnam.

Whereas Woosie preferred little or, in some cases, no dialogue with his prospective team until it was finalised, Faldo will be speaking to them all on a regular basis.

"I don't want anyone in the dark,"' he said. "I think it is very important to have a good relationship with all of them."

The Englishman has already spoken to opposite number Paul Azinger about the tone of next year's match. With America having lost the last two Ryder Cups by record margins, there are concerns that a fiery character like Azinger might try to turn Valhalla into a vendetta.

Faldo insists, however, that both men are keen to continue the bonhomie that has been a feature of the last three contests.

The pair got to know each other when sharing a television booth as analysts for two years and Faldo said: "Paul shows the passion, that's going to be his great quality as Ryder Cup captain and, like me, he is fiercely competitive. But we talked on a flight recently about what sort of Ryder Cup we wanted. The idea is to play hard, of course, but it is important to both of us that we're all standing round a barbecue on the Sunday night saying 'What an experience that was'."

Almost inevitably, as Europe's most decorated golfer, Faldo was asked why no major champions now seem to come from these shores. And, as ever these days, he had an enlightening response.

"I remember I led The Open at St Andrews after 27 holes in 1978 and it still took me another nine years before I had learned enough to win a major," he said.

"We're at that stage now where they are all learning to climb the necessary ladders. They're all working hard enough. There's just a lot to learn."

These are exciting times for Europe's most successful golfer. His opening three-month stint as the lead analyst on CBS has drawn almost universal praise. He is also designing golf courses and, in July, there will even be a short stint as a player once more.

First The Open at Carnoustie, 20 years after his first success in the event; then, after turning 50 that week, he will play in the Senior British Open at Muirfield.

Faldo was speaking at Wentworth where the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, begins tomorrow.

Before all that, a pro-am today, with Andriy Shevchenko listed among the field of past and present Premiership footballers competing.

Isn't he supposed to be in Athens today, at the Champions League final at the behest of his former club, AC Milan? Which occasion he snubs might indicate where the Chelsea man is playing his football next season.