Garrido backs Martin in selection row

Matters turned particularly nasty yesterday in the great Ryder Cup fitness fiasco. Indeed a major Spanish rift seemed inevitable as Ignacio Garrido, a newcomer to the European side, came out strongly in support of beleaguered Miguel Angel Martin and against the team captain, Seve Ballesteros. It also emerged in Madrid that Martin's lawyers are to appeal to the European Ryder Cup committee in the hope of having their man accepted into the side to meet the US at Valderrama on September 26th to 28th. And according to a Dublin expert, they have an excellent case.

"It's the most unfair decision I have heard of in the history of golf," said 25-year-old Garrido, who has a very good command of English. "I cannot like Seve's attitude on this and if he comes and asks me my opinion I will say: `You are crazy'."

Garrido went on: "They are not giving Miguel Angel a chance. Anyone in his position would try to do the same. It's very unfair what they are doing and I don't think it ends here. Maybe if he goes to court he can stop the Ryder Cup."

According to Douglas Heather, a Dublin solicitor who specialises in golfing matters, this is not as far-fetched as it might sound. "As there appear to be no rules covering fitness for the Ryder Cup, my view is that, legally, Martin should have until the actual morning of the tournament to prove his physical well-being," said Heather.

"In the meantime, he can sue the Ryder Cup Committee for loss of potential earnings accruing from his status as a member of the side, unless they reverse their decision. And as an adjunct to that, he can seek an injunction to have the tournament stopped pending his acceptance into the team."

Heather went on: "On that latter point, however, the more likely outcome would be financial compensation, given that damages to Martin are probably measurable in money. Either way, I would certainly feel that he has a case insofar as British law would apply in his dealings with the Ryder Cup committee."

Meanwhile, Ballesteros, who is at Crans-sur-Sierre for the European Masters, responded yesterday to the Garrido criticism by saying: "Ignacio Garrido is Miguel Angel's best friend. I think you have to have an opinion from a neutral side."

Then Ballesteros went on, patronisingly: "He (Garrido) is a little bit too young to make such a statement. He is a rookie, and I am very happy he made the team because he is a phenomenal player. But I think he is a little bit premature in making such a strong statement."

Garrido had anticipated that answer. "He (Martin) is a good friend of mine, but that makes no difference," he said. "I would say the same if I didn't like him."

Martin was rejected as a possible team member last Tuesday, because he refused to undergo a fitness test at Valderrama yesterday, as requested by the Ryder Cup committee. He claimed he had been advised against it by his doctors and wanted more time to show he could recover from the serious wrist injury which has kept him out of action since the British Open in July.

In the course of a press conference yesterday, Martin didn't mince his words. "The captain, Ballesteros, is responsible for this," he alleged. "If Jose-Maria Olazabal (the player who has replaced Martin) had been number 17 this would not have happened."

In the event, Olazabal finished immediately behind Martin in the final points table and his elevation to the side opens the door for Ballesteros to name both Nick Faldo and Jesper Parnevik as his wild cards today, thereby fielding what would probably be his strongest side.

On being asked if there were a plot to remove him and substitute a better-known player, Martin said: "Yes." But Ballesteros remained adamant yesterday that it was the Ryder Cup Committee and not him who made the decision.

Yet he informed the media during the Smurfit European Open that Martin would not be in the side. Then there was the categorical statement from Mitchell Platts, spokesman for the Ryder Cup Committee, that Martin was informed he would be replaced, "following close consultation between the Ryder Cup Committee and Severiano Ballesteros".

When told that, Ballesteros reacted: "No, no, no, no - I was not there. It was not me. European Tour executive director Ken Schofield told me last night (Tuesday) that they made the decision. It was up to the committee."

Ballesteros then said: "I asked the committee to give him some time. I don't make the rules here. I only have so much power - please don't implicate me in this. I am not trying to excuse myself or defend myself, but I am in a very difficult position.

"I think it was a mistake in the statement. They asked me what I want and I said `I want you to make the right decision'. I don't feel guilty - my mind is very clear, and I am very peaceful here." Ballesteros further claimed that he was surprised Martin had been asked to go to Valderrama for his fitness test. "In principle I thought he was going to have his test in Madrid," he said. "I am in a very difficult situation - I am the captain; I am Spanish; the Ryder Cup is in Spain, and Miguel Angel Martin is a good friend.

"I just hope that some time in the future the committee decision will be seen as right. Martin has his rights, but the committee has the obligations towards the team. This is a team event, and the players have to be prepared mentally."

To emphasise the point, Ballesteros referred to the decision by Sandy Lyle to opt out of the 1989 side on the night before it was finalised and of Olazabal's withdrawal two years ago. The inference was that he hoped Martin would have followed suit.

But, of course, Martin didn't. Instead, he found himself in a none-too-friendly exchange with Schofield last Sunday. "He said to look for a good lawyer - and I have one," said the player.

Alberto Ferreiro is the lawyer in question. He said yesterday: "If the committee doesn't accept this (an appeal for reinstatement), we'll go to the courts." At this stage, anything seems possible in an extraordinary saga.