Faldo without star men

Only two of Europe’s top 10 golfers – Justin Rose and Paul Casey – are in Ireland this week for the Seve Trophy match pitting Nick Faldo’s Britain and Ireland against the Continental side led by Seve Ballesteros.

But the disappointing turnout does give others a chance to strut their stuff at The Heritage an hour west of Dublin and, regardless of who is missing, the competition also gives Faldo a taste of captaincy ahead of the main event: next year’s Ryder Cup, of course.