Ryder Cup's "dazzling dozen" set for reunion at Masters

FOR the first time since that memorable week at Oakland Hills last month, the 12-man European Ryder Cup team comes together for the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama on Thursday.

The fact that the "dazzling dozen" have signed on indicates the prestige of the tournament and that the venue is arguably the best on Tour.

It was here that Europe won the 1997 Ryder Cup and of that side, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn compete this week. Miguel-Angel Jimenez was then assistant to captain Seve Ballesteros and in the meantime, the likes of Jesper Parnevik, Per-Ulrik Johnasson, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Ian Woosnam, Costantino Rocca, Nick Faldo and Ignacio Garrido have either departed our shores, lost form or just gradually drifted from the scene.