ALL of a sudden -- and all because of a flower pot -- Sam Torrance
could find himself needing a wild card to be part of Europe's Ryder Cup
team next month.
Torrance has been forced to pull out of the final qualifying event,
the #650,000 Volvo German Open, which starts at Hubbelrath near
Dusseldorf today, because of the bruised sternum he suffered crashing
into a plant-pot while sleep-walking eight nights ago.
The Scot, 40 on Tuesday, dropped from sixth to eighth in the cup
points table by withdrawing from last week's English Open after a
painful opening 78. Now he must wait and see if he falls out of the
leading nine who automatically gain places on Sunday night.
''I'm in absolute agony,'' said Torrance, whose attempt to hit some
balls at Wentworth made it patently clear he could not make the trip to
Germany.
''The doctor has said it will take at least 10 days to mend and
possibly three weeks.'' The match begins in four weeks' time.
''It's a desperate thing to happen at this time of year,'' he added.
''A catastrophe at exactly the wrong time.''
Captain Bernard Gallacher names his three wild cards on Monday. Two
are virtually certain to go to Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Torrance, three times a winner this season, would become favourite for
the third if he requires it.
Gallacher is not revealing his hand, though. ''I'll discover who the
nine are first, then I'll think about permutations for the foursomes and
fourballs before announcing my wild cards,'' he said.
Tenth-placed Olazabal is not playing this week -- despite telephone
calls from Gallacher -- but Ballesteros is. At fortieth in the table,
however, he knows he is dependent on an invitation.
There were broad hints from the Spaniard yesterday that the nod has
already been given to him and Olazabal, despite the fact that neither
has won a title since March last year and are still struggling for form.
Together, they have lost only one out of 12 games in three Ryder Cup
matches and, last month, they beat American captain Tom Watson and Payne
Stewart 4 and 3 at Pedrena, Seve's home course.
''That was very important,'' said Ballesteros. ''We did not make any
mistakes and our co-ordination was fantastic. We've always had good
communication and I think it is going to happen the same way in the
future.
''I hope the Americans are keeping the cup clean for us. I know the
team is going to win.''
Peter Baker, ninth in the table, is in an even more vulnerable
position than Torrance. But at least he is playing and able to influence
matters himself.
A total of 13 players in the field still have a chance of climbing
into the top nine.
Ronan Rafferty, currently in eleventh place but first and fourth in
the last two events, needs to be no lower than fourth again; Mark Roe
and Joakim Haeggman must be third at worst; Paul Broadhurst, Anders
Forsbrand, Steve Richardson, Jamie Spence and Gordon Brand Jr have to
finish first or second, while David Gilford, Jesper Parnevik, Sandy
Lyle, Miguel Angel Jimenez and David Feherty must win.
Former Open and US Masters champion Lyle, who has not played in the
cup since 1987, believes he should at least be considered for a wild
card if he fails this week.
''Tom Watson picked a couple of experienced players (Lanny Wadkins and
Ray Floyd) and I hope Bernard has the same idea,'' said Lyle. ''You need
to take charge against the Americans and make them think. Length and
experience should be the two main factors.''
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