Torrance weighing up options

European captain Sam Torrance today continued to explore some unexpected options on the second day of official practice for the Ryder Cup.

Torrance sprang a few surprises on Tuesday when the likes of Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik and Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood played in the same group of four, but against each other rather than in their usual partnership.

Clarke had instead partnered Thomas Bjorn and was alongside the Dane again this morning in a fourball with Pierre Fulke and Phillip Price, although it was not yet clear which players would be paired together.

Fulke and Price had also played together yesterday, although it would be something of a surprise if the two rookies were to form a partnership when the contest begins at the Belfry on Friday.

The second group saw Garcia again in the same group as Bernhard Langer, with Colin Montgomerie and Westwood possibly renewing their successful partnership of yesterday when they beat Clarke and Bjorn 3&2.

The final group saw Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, strongly tipped to renew their World Cup winning partnership, accompanied by Swedish pair Niclas Fasth and Jesper Parnevik.

Parnevik and Garcia won three and a half points out of four at Brookline but while Garcia proved his game was in good shape with victory in the Korean Open recently, Parnevik has struggled to hit top form.

There were even rumours he was on the verge of pulling out of the team after struggling badly with his putting, but ironically a lesson from Tiger Woods’ best friend Mark O’Meara has identified the problem and given Parnevik a confidence boost ahead of his third wildcard appearance.