Torrance to ring changes for Ryder Cup
Torrance's victorious team at the Belfry in September was made up of 10 automatic qualifiers from the Order of Merit-based points table, and two wild cards.
However, with more of Europe's top players spending more time on the USPGA tour, many leading figures including 2006 captaincy candidates Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie are in favour of changes.
The most likely option is for five players to be taken from the Order of Merit and five from the world rankings, with two wild cards.
Torrance is a member of the European Tour's tournament committee which discussed the proposals earlier this week.
"I can assure you there will be changes and it will benefit our team. I had to leave out Jose Maria Olazabal to pick the world number five, Sergio Garcia. That can't be right," he said.
"With so many now playing over there (America), you really need more from the world rankings."
In the meantime, Nick Faldo believes a changing of the guard is finally taking place in British golf.
Veterans such as himself, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie are facing the increasing challenge of up-and-coming stars headed by Justin Rose, Nick Dougherty and Paul Casey.
But far from mounting a rearguard action, Faldo is delighted by their emergence and actively encouraging the new wave.
He intends to seek out even younger prospects by reducing the starting age on his Faldo Junior Series from 13 to as young as seven.
He side-stepped the question of picking a British star for the next decade but said:
"Justin has had a great season, Nick has also had a very good season.
"It's important for them to set new goals for next year and commit themselves to that and take the next rung in the run-up to the 2004 Ryder Cup.
"Paul Casey is also progressing and all that group of players. It's a great time for those guys to have a season to acclimatise to get ready and collect points."
Faldo, winner of six majors in an illustrious career which earned him the MBE amongst a host of golfing titles, has played his part in reviving the game's long-term fortunes.
"About seven years ago there wasn't much going on in British golf and that's why I stared the Junior Series.
"I'm even more in touch now. We're thinking of down to start at grass roots, from seven or eight up. It's something which might happen next season.
"We have the elite squad, I've been with them in Florida and will see them again in January. We have seven now five boys and two girls and the idea is to expand."
Faldo will focus on the development of players and courses with new plans underway in Orlando, Greece, Mexico, China, Australia and the Dominican Republic next year rather than graduating to the seniors tour.
"I'm not planning to pack a suitcase. I don't know how they do it, I take my hat off to them. These guys are out playing 28 events a year or something. I would really like to play maybe six events, no more," said Faldo.






