This event is the brainchild of the late Seve Ballesteros and is a fun one to watch, as it has 4 days of play including fourballs, foursomes, greensomes and singles (greensomes: all 4 players drive, teams select the best drive then play alternative shots)
It doesn't have the cache of the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup but it is growing in popularity and has a strong field this week.
europeantour.com Lee Westwood believes Great Britain and Ireland start the Vivendi Seve Trophy as underdogs despite winning the last five contests against Continental Europe.
While the World Number Two is joined by Open Champion Darren Clarke and last week’s winner Simon Dyson in a strong side for Paul McGinley’s team, Westwood believes Jean Van de Velde’s men will start as favourites at St-Nom-La-Bretèche in Paris.
Asked whether Great Britain & Ireland were unbeatable having not lost the contest since its first staging in 2000, Westwood replied: “I don't know whether it's invincible. I think on paper the European side have got players higher in the World Rankings.
But golf is not played on paper; it's played on grass, and I suppose with that they are slight favourites. But I think a lot of the British players have played a lot of match play golf over the years and might have a few tricks up their sleeves.”
Westwood believes the return of 2009 winning captain McGinley could prove a key factor in France.“Paul has done it before and been successful,” he added. “There's a good few experienced players on the GB & I side that can lead the rookies along as well. It's a nice balance - I think if we play to our best then we'll have a chance.
“He's very good. When he talks he sounds like he has a lot of confidence in himself and a lot of confidence in the team and seems to have a plan. All of the boxes ticked for eventualities out there, and he has the experience of playing in a Ryder Cup Team and things like that so he's seen different captaincies, and when he talks, you listen.”
Westwood’s last appearance in the event came back in 2003, when he won three points from a possible five.“It's eight years since I played the Seve Trophy,” he added. “Vivendi have obviously come on board just recently and it's gaining in prestige every year. “Obviously there's a tinge of sadness this year with Seve passing away early in the year but it's nice that it's a good lineup this week, and I'm sure in the true Seve tradition, it will be as competitive as ever.”
Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th September 2011
Format
The event will be a match play competition between two teams of 10 players representing (a) Europe and (b) Great Britain and Ireland. On each of the first two days there will be a series of 5 fourball matches. On the third day there will be a series of 4 greensome and 4 foursome matches. On the final day there will be a series of 10 singles matches.
Eligibility
Each team will be chosen as follows: (a) The leading 5 eligible players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday 5th September 2011 . (b) The leading 5 eligible players not otherwise qualified in (a) above from the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the Omega European Masters (5th September 2011).
Continental EuropeJean van de Velde (capt)
Thomas Björn
Nicolas Colsaerts
Anders Hansen
Peter Hanson
Raphael Jacquelin
Miguel Angel Jiménez
Pablo Larrazábal
Matteo Manassero
Francesco Molinari
Alexander Noren
GB &Ireland
Paul McGinley (capt)
Darren Clarke
Jamie Donaldson
Simon Dyson
Ross Fisher
Mark Foster
David Horsey
Scott Jamieson
Ian Poulter
Robert Rock
Lee Westwood
Thursday fourballs
EUR Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ & Pablo LARRAZÁBAL 11:35 Simon DYSON &
Jamie DONALDSON GBI
EUR Peter HANSON & Raphaël JACQUELIN 11:50 Scott JAMIESON & Ross FISHER GBI
EUR Anders HANSEN & Francesco MOLINARI 12:05 Mark FOSTER & Lee WESTWOOD GBI
EUR Nicolas COLSAERTS & Matteo MANASSERO 12:20 Darren CLARKE &
David HORSEY GBI
EUR Thomas BJÖRN & Alexander NOREN 12:35 Robert ROCK & Ian POULTER
Miguel Jimenez will hit the first shot in honour of Seve..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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