Winners respond to Ballesteros challenge

Seve Trophy: After a week during which the golf around Wynyard was overshadowed by the verbal jousting of those playing it, yesterday's climax to the biennial match between Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe was dominated by what someone had said rather than what anyone did with a club in his hand. For the record the host team cruised to victory, winning seven points from the 10 singles for a 16½-11½ margin.

"We've had a fantastic four days watching the 20 best players in Europe playing with great team spirit," said the tournament host, Seve Ballesteros.

Unfortunately for the Spaniard and, more to the point, for the future of his event, that was not the impression he had given the day before, when he said he was not that impressed with any of the Europeans except Sergio Garcia. Even then his remarks about his compatriot were on the faint side of complimentary.

European tour officials were anxious to play down the comments, insisting the tournament host had been misquoted. For the record, he was not. After their matches finished all 20 competitors were handed a copy of a statement from Ballesteros alleging words had been "put into his mouth". It remains to be seen if the balm was sufficiently soothing. Several players were said to be angry, though only one gave public vent to that anger. "There are 10 great matches in prospect today, even if Seve doesn't think so," Thomas Bjorn said before teeing off in his singles match against David Howell.

The victorious captain, Colin Montgomerie, was another not about to endorse what Ballesteros had said.

"People are entitled to their own opinion but from my point of view I was very, very impressed by what my team did. I have seen some great golf and some great clutch putts holed," he said, adding that the standard of European golf has improved to the extent that for the first time in recent memory the US would go into next year's Ryder Cup as underdogs.

With the future of the Seve Trophy uncertain, the last thing its host needs is to lose the support of the players who turned the 2005 edition into one of the more compelling events of the year. Its disappearance would not help the European game either, not least because the cross-Channel competition provides a great practice setting for the Ryder Cup.

In that case Ian Woosnam can safely write the name of Howell near the top of his team-sheet for next year's match at the K Club.

Since returning last month from a long-term injury the Englishman has had one victory, at the BMW International, and two top-10 finishes - a record that has seen him rise to 19th in the world. His partnership with Paul Casey was the bedrock of the team's performance over the first three days, providing three points to the 9½-8½ lead going into yesterday, when it was Bjorn's turn to experience the extent of Howell's improvement. He was out in 31 and two up, then birdied three of the next four to win 6 and 5.

The early point provided the impetus the home team needed and it was not long before Casey, a 4 and 3 winner over Niclas Fasth, Graeme McDowell, 5 and 4 over Maarten Lafeber, and Stephen Dodd, 2 and 1 over Jean-Francois Remesy, took the hosts to the edge of victory. Montgomerie was one of only two in the team to lose, going down 2 and 1 to Jose Maria Olazabal.

Still there were consolations. Yesterday's win was the third in succession for Britain and Ireland and will have done little harm to the captain's chances of one day leading a Ryder Cup team.

"If that happens I will be delighted but let's just savour this victory today," Montgomerie said. "You hate to lose games like this if you are captain. It must be awful to be a losing Ryder Cup captain and this (event) is a preview of that in many ways, so it is nice to win."

The winning point was secured by Bradley Dredge, without a point until yesterday and required to concede a hole on day two for carrying an extra club. Only the most callous observer, or possibly Ballesteros, could fail to have been impressed.

"I haven't had the best of weeks so it was important for me to play some good golf," he said after Thomas Levet conceded their match, and the trophy, on the 17th green.

Guardian Service

Britain and Ireland 16½

Continental Europe 11½

Greensomes: Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington bt T Levet (Fra), JM Olazabal (Spa) 3 and 2; D Howell, P Casey bt N Fasth (Swe), P Hanson (Swe) 2 holes; S Dodd, Graeme McDowell halved with MA Jimenez (Spa), E Canonica (Ita); I Poulter, N Dougherty halved with T Bjorn (Den), H Stenson (Swe). Greensomes result: Britain and Ireland 3 Continental Europe 1.

Foursomes: P Harrington, P McGinley halved with T Levet (Fra), JF Remesy (Fra); P Casey, D Howell bt MA Jimenez (Spa), E Canonica (Ita) 2 and 1; B Dredge, I Poulter lost to N Fasth (Swe), H Stenson (Swe) 1 hole; N Dougherty, C Montgomerie bt T Bjorn (Den), M Lafeber (Ned) 1 hole. Foursomes result: Britain and Ireland 2½ Continental Europe 1½.

Singles:C Montgomerie lost to JM Olazabal (Spa) 2 and 1; P Casey bt N Fasth (Swe) 4 and 3; I Poulter halved with P Hanson (Swe); D Howell bt T Bjorn (Den) 6 and 5; S Dodd bt JF Remesy (Fra) 2 and 1; B Dredge bt T Levet (Fra) 2 and 1; G McDowell bt M Lafeber (Ned) 5 and 4; P McGinley bt MA Jimenez (Spa) 1 hole; P Harrington lost to E Canonica (Ita) 2 and 1; N Dougherty halved with H Stenson (Swe). Singles result: Britain and Ireland 7 Continental Europe 3.