Man-management skills came under close scrutiny here yesterday, when the pairings were announced for the opening matches in the 32nd Ryder Cup. By his own admission, Seve Ballesteros, didn't see fit to tell the omitted players, including Darren Clarke, that they were being left out this morning's fourballs.

In sharp contrast, US skipper Tom Kite, went to each group of four from the American team to tell them of his decision as they played the front nine yesterday morning. And after announcing his own pairings he said: "I'm surprised that Monty's paired with Langer: I expected him to be with Darren Clarke."

When the European captain was asked if he had given the bad news to the four who were left out, he replied: "No." Then, pointing to a monitor he added: "They will see it now on television."

There was a suggestion that Ballesteros had, in fact, informed Clarke on the 14th hole yesterday morning, when he put his arm around his shoulder. But the player insisted to me afterwards: "I haven't been told anything, but I'm not hopeful."

Later, when his worst fears were confirmed, he said: "I'm very disappointed, particularly in view of how well I have been playing." But his manager, Andrew Chandler, who was on hand to lift the player's spirits, urged him: "Be dignified and do your part for the team, no matter how badly you feel."

Then Chandler added: "There's no reason why Darren still can't be a Ryder Cup hero." Indeed not. One recalls the stunning contribution of Eamonn Darcy at Muirfield Village in 1987, when his first match was in the fourballs on Saturday afternoon. And of Christy O'Connor Jnr and Philip Walton, who also played only one match prior to their memorable singles' wins.

The indications are that Clarke may not take any part in today's foursomes either. And that his first match may be with Colin Montgomerie in the fourballs tomorrow morning. There is, of course, the fact that his chances of earning a Ferrari Testarossa for emerging with a 100 per cent record, are now greatly enhanced.

The handling of the fourball pairings, is the first serious weakness that has appeared in the management skills of Ballesteros so far this week. And it is unquestionably a weakness. One is tempted to suggest that always being a first-choice player himself, he lost sight of how it must feel to be overlooked.

And it seems that even Kite had a better grasp of the undoubted skills of Ireland's representative in the side. A penchant for carding birdies is seen as a prime requirement for fourball play and Clarke happens to have the highest number in Europe this year, with 307 from 76 rounds - an average of four birdies per round.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros has deployed his resources in a fairly predictable manner, with old hands Nick Faldo, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer in there in the thick of things. It also comes as no surprise that the Swedes, Jesper Parnevik and PerUlrik Johansson are paired together.

Whatever about his skills in man-management, the celebrated Ballesteros humour remains razorsharp. "If we put Langer in the first match at 9.0 o'clock, we would probably all miss lunch," he said, by way of explaining his presence in the final fourball. "I think Colin will have to slow down a bit."

When did he finalise his pairings? "I called Miguel-Angel Jimenez (his assistant) at 5.15 this morning and told him to come to my room," said Ballesteros. "`Are you crazy?' he says. Then I say to him that when we are finished he can go back to sleep."

Ballesteros claims to have slept only fitfully this week whereas Kite, despite the disorientation of jet-lag, has had no such problems. "I went to bed a little later than Seve last night, but I didn't waken until seven this morning," said the American.

There were no arguments from the assembled media when Kite added: "The matches look good." The palpable excitement which caused this response was the fourth match in which Montgomerie and Langer will face Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara.

So, as many were predicting, the Orlando neighbours are playing together, in accordance with their expressed wishes to the captain. And Kite believes he can squeeze the best out of the fourball experience of Fred Couples and Davis Love by splitting them to play with Brad Faxon and Phil Mickelson, respectively.

One of the great fascinations of the Ryder Cup is how well-matched the teams become when pairing is set against pairing.

Suddenly, world ranking and bank balances seem to lose their earlier relevance, a point reflected in the fact that the reigning British Open champion, Justin Leonard, will not be in action this morning.

All the while, there is the menace of the infamous 17th, which is certain to become a dominant feature of the weekend's play. When I looked it over last Monday morning, there were only three, isolated figures dotted over its 511-yard length.

Yesterday morning, without a player in sight, there were 1,000 spectators ranged around the banked areas to the right of the fairways and behind the greens. Others lined the left-side, beyond the fast-running stream which runs from the menacing pond which fronts the green, back towards the tee.

By the time that Clarke, Parnevik, Johansson and Thomas Bjorn came into view over the crest of the fairway, the crowd had swollen to 2,000. Then we got a foretaste of what is to come over the next three days.

From a difficult lie on the right side of the fairway, Parnevik attempted a lay-up shot which was scampering towards the water. "No! No! No!" shouted the Swede. Fortunately for him, it lacked the necessary pace. "Good lay-up," Johansson enthused.

Whereupon Ballesteros, sitting in the rough in a blue-painted golf buggy, applauded warmly.

As it happened, Clarke drove into the rough; laid-up safely and then hit a glorious wedge shot of 140 yards to within six feet of the pin. And he holed the putt for a birdie four.

Then, down the 414-yard 18th, the Ulsterman hit a huge drive which split the fairway and left him with only 137 yards to the elevated green, which he negotiated with an eight iron into a cross-wind.

Bemused as to the probability of being out of favour, he asked: "Have you seen how I've been playing?" I had - and it would be difficult to ask for more.

But the captains were right when they spoke of the event being greater than the feelings of any individual. In fact if one is to think of the biennial showpiece in an Irish context, it must be from a national standpoint, given that the country will be playing host to the event in 2005.

Clearly, it is very much in our interest that the matches should still be highly competitive by that stage. And the build-up starts here, this weekend.

The lasting image from yesterday's happenings, however, was of Woods who, on being introduced at the opening ceremony, flashed the broadest smile imaginable, while extending a clenched left fist in triumph. Whether his performances are good, bad or mediocre, he is certain to have a profound influence on a fascinating clash.

As usual, Europe will be attempting to beat the odds. For that to happen, some remarkable performances will have to be produced over the next three days. As usual, they will.