Seve: I'd love to lead Europe again

Having captained the Continental Europe team five times in the Seve Trophy, the event launched to honour his contribution to golf on this side of the Atlantic, the legendary former Open champion wants to put his experience to good effect.

Ballesteros led Europe to victory at Valderrama in his native Spain in 1997, and he said yesterday: "If the players want me to be Ryder Cup captain I'd be happy to do it. I know I said I would never do it again but in life you say Yes to certain things and change your mind. Everybody does.

"I have no doubt I would be a better captain now, although it would be difficult to be better because I won. But I have learned a lot of things, how to treat players, how to keep the team together and how to keep everybody happy. I know how to work it well. It's easy for me."

Ballesteros has targeted the 2010 match at Celtic Manor, when he is likely to face competition from Colin Montgomerie, the long-term favourite, and Ian Woosnam, who has indicated he would consider a second spell in charge in his native Wales after his recordbreaking success at the K Club last year.

Five-time major winner Ballesteros will be 53 then but insists that will not be too old.

"I'm still in touch with the players, as you can tell from the golf course," he said. "I have an excellent relationship with them."

Ballesteros displayed his leadership qualities to good effect at The Heritage club in Ireland's Co Laois yesterday as he guided Continental Europe into a 9 1/2 - 8 1/2 lead over Nick Faldo's Great Britain and Ireland side before today's 10 singles.

Faldo, who is using the contest as preparation for his spell as Europe's Ryder Cup captain at Valhalla next year, admitted he would be seeking Ballesteros's advice on a specific issue about taking on the Americans.

The Englishman plans to talk to past captains for help but may be reluctant to include Sam Torrance, who has poured scorn on Faldo's first significant decision to appoint Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal as his vice-captains.

The 54-year-old Scot, who led Europe to victory in 2002, condemned the move as "absolutely horrific" and said it was "great" that McGinley had quit the role to concentrate on trying to qualify as a player.

Torrance claimed Faldo had made a "real mistake" because vice-captains cannot do anything until the final few weeks of the build-up and to appoint players who were still trying to make the team was "just an insult".

Faldo has refused to discuss McGinley's withdrawal in Ireland, insisting the emphasis should remain on the Seve Trophy.

Even though the event has the feel of a reserve match, with 11 of the eligible players declining to take part and the locals, with no Irishmen to cheer, turning out in limited numbers, there is plenty of pride at stake and excellent golf being played.

Frenchman Gregory Havret scored a hole-in- one at the 189-yard seventh in the morning as the Continentals took the session 3 1/2 - 1/2 to lead by three points overall.

Ballesteros made a late change when Thomas Bjorn suffered an upset stomach,and replacement Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who switched rooms in the middle of the night to escape a crying baby, helped Robert Karlsson beat the English pair of Justin Rose and Paul Casey 3 and 1 in a high-quality match.

Casey was dropped from the afternoon foursomes as Montgomerie returned but, as the rain poured down, Monty and Graeme Storm suffered GB and Ireland's only loss. Faldo's men fought back to take the session 3-1 to be only a point behind.