Instead there are people with names like Maggert Haas and Faxon

Instead there are people with names like Maggert, Haas and Faxon. The only drawback to Montgomerie's argument is that the European team looks equally fragile. On the grounds that we have two non-vintage teams the 31st Ryder Cup could be a close encounter of the torrid kind.The United States are favourites, justifiably so, simply because of home advantage. Oak Hill is a classic, old money course which has found favour with the Europeans, but the intrinsic differences in conditions between the continents will count against Bernard Gallacher and his team.They have had three days to acclimatise but ideally what they need is three years. The rough is different, the fairways are different, the greens faster and smaller. America, despite the comparative anonymity of their team, have much greater strength in depth and could afford to leave out a player who won the Open Championship at St Andrews two months ago.Lanny Wadkins, the captain, pointed out that his team contains two current major winners in Ben Crenshaw (the Masters) and Corey Pavin (the US Open).

Wadkins made no mention whatsoever of Daly and handed his two wild cards to Curtis Strange and Fred Couples. There is no way that Europe could have left out a major winner even if he did have the sobriquet of Wild Thing.As it is there has been a deafening gnashing of teeth over Europe's decision to fall in line with the US and restrict Gallacher's hand to two wild cards. Montgomerie suggested that the European captain should have the discretion to choose all 12. Tony Jacklin, with just a whiff of sour grapes, said Europe had shot themselves in the foot.Gallacher may not rival the Duke of Wellington as a leader but the Scotsman has had a bum rap.

Jacklin was fortunate in that when he captained the team in the roaring Eighties his key men, Ballesteros, Faldo, Langer, Woosnam and Olazabal, were major players The same cannot be said now. Ballesteros, plagued with back trouble, is struggling; Faldo has made no impression this year; Langer is solid rather than dynamic; Woosnam has hardly played and when he has he would have been better off staying at home; and Olazabal, of course, pulled out with a foot injury.By and large the Ryder Cup has been a frustrating experience for Gallacher. He was beaten by Tom Watson in a crucial singles match in Florida in 1983. Europe lost that one by 141/2-131/2 and in his first match as captain he got the same result at Kiawah Island in South Carolina in 1991 Two years later at The Belfry the US won 15-13. Gallacher said that two terms was quite enough thank you but the players persuaded him to stay on.The US changes its captain far more frequently than Europe and in this regard Gallacher has the edge on Wadkins. If he has made mistakes in the past he will have learnt from them.