Ryder get-together arranged

Three members of Europe’s 1999 Ryder Cup team will contest the Madeira Island Open this week, all looking to kick-start their careers at Santo da Serra.

Jarmo Sandelin, Andrew Coltart and Jean Van de Velde were on the losing side at Brookline six years’ ago and have not come close to qualifying for the team again. Sandelin’s last victory was in the BMW Asian Open in 2002, Coltart’s at The Great North Open in 2001 and Van de Velde is best remembered for the one that got away in the Open at Carnoustie in 1999.

Van de Velde can at least point to a serious knee injury which has plagued him for more than two years and required two bouts of reconstructive surgery.