Golf/Ryder Cup 2006: Sergio Garcia says he would be prepared to step down from Europe's Ryder Cup team this year if he felt his game was below par, despite qualifying on merit.
The world number six, who lies second in the European Ryder Cup world points standings, is on the verge of playing in the biennial event against the US for the fourth time.
"If I feel I'm not going to help the team because of my game, then I'd definitely consider talking to the captain," the 25-year-old Spaniard said while preparing for the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.
"If I qualify by playing really well last year and this year I'm struggling big time and still manage to make the team, I would say: "You know, I don't think I'm going to be a good thing for the team. Maybe this guy deserves it more than I do.
"But I don't think it's going to be the case because hopefully I'll be playing well," Garcia added with a broad smile.
The 36th Ryder Cup will be played at the K Club in Co Kildare, from September 22nd-24th.
Garcia, winner of the Mercedes Championships in 2002 and one of the favourites in this week's elite field of 28 at the Plantation Course, has a feeling this year could be his best at the top level.
A richly talented player who burst on to the world scene by finishing runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1999 US PGA championship at Medinah, the precocious Spaniard has so far failed to live up to the lofty expectations heaped upon him.
"We all know what we're capable of doing and you always have confidence in yourself and try to improve your game as the years go by," he said.
Overall, Garcia is proud of a playing record that features six victories on the PGA Tour and the same number in Europe.
"If you look at it, I've been very fortunate," he said. "I've had a good career, and I'm pretty well established in the World's top 10."
Royal Trophy
Golf's increasing popularity in Asia is being tapped by a new Ryder Cup-style contest pitching some of Europe's top players against the cream of Asia.
The Royal Trophy at Amata Spring Golf Club, Bangkok will carry a $1.5 million prize fund and comprises 16 matches over tomorrow and Sunday involving foursomes, fourballs and singles.
It is the first time a combined Asian team has competed for a major prize in men's golf.
European captain Seve Ballesteros boasts 2002 Ryder Cup winners Paul McGinley, and David Howell and has chosen Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam as his wildcards in an eight-man team that also includes Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.
"We have a very powerful European team," Ballesteros, Europe's victorious 1997 Ryder Cup captain, said in Bangkok yesterday.
McGinley arrived in Thailand having won the European Tour season's final event of the 2005 season, the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain.
Facing the Europeans will be a strong Asian line-up assembled under the stewardship of Japan's Masahiro Kuramoto, one of Asia's most successful golfers with 30 Japan Tour titles.
EUROPE: Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Nick Faldo (Britain), Kenneth Ferrie (Britain), David Howell (England), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Paul McGinley (Ireland), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Ian Woosnam (Wales).
ASIA: Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Jyoti Randhawa (India), Yasuharo Imano (Japan), Keiichiro Fukabori (Japan), Hur Suk-ho (South Korea), Arjun Atwal (India), Zhang Lian-wei (China).
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