Torrance drops Ryder Cup hint

SAM TORRANCE yesterday hinted all 12 members of his team would play at least once before the final day singles in next month’s Ryder Cup.

Jarmo Sandelin, Jean Van De Velde and Andrew Coltart were famously left out of the action on the first two days at Brookline three years ago.

Captain Mark James felt his side’s 10-6 lead going into the final day vindicated his decision, but all three players were then soundly beaten in the singles as Ben Crenshaw’s side staged a remarkable comeback to win by a single point.

Torrance, who was James’ vice captain in Boston, yesterday dropped his strongest hint yet, however, that he would give all players a taste of competitive action after revealing he had chosen to change the second day’s order of play to give himself the chance to test any out of form players in the foursomes.

‘‘I feel foursomes are very tough to get right so in foursomes I’ll probably test people,’’ Torrance said.

‘‘If I am going to play everyone before the singles I would rather put someone who is not entirely on top of their game out in the foursomes because I think foursomes is up in the air anyway.

‘‘It is such a difficult format to get right and now with fourballs starting and fourballs last, I can put my strongest out in the first and last series.

‘‘We have always been better at foursomes over the years so maybe there is a chance to nick a lead. I wasn’t aware I was able to do it but when I asked about a month ago there was no problem.’’ Torrance said he was fairly sure of his pairings despite the worrying recent form of some players, particularly Lee Westwood, who was expected to team up again with good friend Darren Clarke, and Paul McGinley who seems likely to be paired with World Cup winning team-mate Pádraig Harrington.

‘‘Paul’s been working hard on his swing with my father, and if my father is very happy with his swing that’s good enough for me,’’ said Torrance.

‘‘It was good to see Pierre Fulke playing well last week and Lee Westwood played well in the first round of the NEC Invitational last night.’’

Torrance also revealed there was still a possibility of getting Sir Alex Ferguson to speak to the European team at the Belfry. Ferguson agreed to attend last year before the postponement but Torrance has yet to get around to asking the Manchester United manager again. The 34th contest between Europe and America will begin with four fourball matches on Friday, September 27, starting at 8am at 15-minute intervals. There will then be four foursomes matches - in which the pairs take alternate shots using one ball - starting at 1.30pm, again at 15-minute intervals.

Saturday’s play will also begin at 8am with four more foursomes matches, traditionally a strong format for the European teams, with fourballs played in the afternoon starting at 12.30pm.

The 12 singles matches will be played on Sunday, starting at 11.15am at 12-minute intervals.