it will be just the spur he needs to return to the main European Tour and accumulate plenty of Ryder Cup points. I know how much Paul wants a crack at the Americans in their own backyard after becoming Europe's hero a year ago at the De Vere Belfry.   And I will not be the least bit surprised if we have as many as four and possibly five or six members of Bernhard Langer's side.  What an achievement that would be for such a young company.

Among those pushing hardest for a place will be Andrew Coltart, who was  a member of the 1999 team in Boston although his involvement was restricted to a singles match against Tiger Woods.   He is having a great season which will surely be capped by a win before it is over.  Andrew certainly deserves one and there are plenty of incentives because if he can climb into the
tour's top 20 he will qualify for the Amex WGC event.   And if he reaches the top 15 then all kinds of doors open on both sides of The Atlantic.

In general, things certainly seem to have improved since the company came back into our hands after a brief and unsuccessful time in Sports Resource Group hands.  We definitely seem to prefer being masters of our own destiny and long may it continue.
 
I cannot finish this week's overview without a word about our cricketers.  Michael Vaughan led England to a magnificent victory over South Africa at The Oval where Marcus Trescothick not only scored his highest ever first class score, but also became only the second player behind the legendary Sir Don Bradman to score a double and then a half century in the same match at The Oval.   He really is among exalted company now.
 
And to cap it all Andrew Flintoff was voted England's player of the
series.   Well done Fred and everybody else.   Very soon we'll have a team of our own to take on the world.