Seve doubtful for Paris appearance

Golf: It remains doubtful whether Seve Ballesteros will attend the Vivendi Trophy, formerly called the Seve Trophy, in Paris…

Golf:It remains doubtful whether Seve Ballesteros will attend the Vivendi Trophy, formerly called the Seve Trophy, in Paris in two weeks' time due to ongoing radiotherapy treatment as he recovers from a brain tumour.

The Britain and Ireland team captained by Paul McGinley is set to defend against Continental Europe led by Thomas Bjorn at St Nom la Breteche on September 24th-27th.

Ballesteros collapsed with a brain tumour in October last year, had four major operations and then began treatment which has so far been so successful that he is even talking of playing in next July’s British Open at St Andrews.

However, manager and nephew Ivan Ballesteros said today: “Seve is with his radiotherapy treatment and this should be finished around the end of this month.

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“It is difficult to say if Seve is going to be able to travel. He will take this decision based on his doctor’s suggestions.”

The line-up of the two teams also has question marks over it. Pádraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey all qualify for Britain and Ireland, but are currently in the States hoping to make it into the Tour Championship the same week.

The same applies to Sergio Garcia, while Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson are both recovering from injuries.

Next Monday is the cut-off point, with five players coming off the world rankings and five from the European Tour money list.

If everybody was available the two sides would at the moment be as follows:

Britain and Ireland:Paul Casey, Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson, Robert Rock, Nick Dougherty, Simon Dyson

Continental Europe:Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson, Soren Kjeldsen, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Alvaro Quiros, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen, Peter Hanson