Europe’s rookies can prove mettle

IF it boils down to a battle of the rookies at Celtic Manor this weekend, then the Ryder Cup will be safely back in European hands. There are 11 debutants between the two teams with six in the home side – with three straight into action this morning.

However, as Paul McGinley pointed out this week, the word has little meaning when one of the sextet, Martin Kaymer, captured the USPGA at Whistling Straits last month, and another, Rory McIlroy, blew away one of the strongest fields of the year in the Quail Hollow Championship last May.

True, McIlroy has done just a little too much talking in recent times and it’s now time to walk the walk and no better man than the 21-year-old from Holywood to do just that.