Seve Trophy: He's 49 now, but still has the charisma and looks of a film star. On the table in front of him is a packet of Marlboro. In the ashtray are a couple of stubbed out butts. He's utterly relaxed

Yet, for Seve Ballesteros, winner of 87 tournaments worldwide, including five majors, life is increasingly veering towards a career away from competing competitively and, still, the old fire that made him a champion continues to burn as intensely as it ever did.

The clock is ticking on Ballesteros, and he must make a decision before the year is out on whether he plays on the Seniors Tour next season.

"The back is okay now and I am playing golf every day. I like the competition. I like to compete. I like the game. But it is difficult. I have to announce before the end of the year but I don't know yet what I am going to do," he said.

But one role he will definitely undertake is that of captain of the continental European team for the Seve Trophy match against Britain and Ireland which takes place at the Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Killenard, near Portlaoise, on September 27th-30th, 2007.

Ballesteros's signature is on the course design - a project he jointly undertook with Jeff Howes - and the idea of playing the match, the fifth instalment since it was inaugurated in 2000. It will be the second time the event will be staged in Ireland, having previously taken place at Druids Glen in 2002.

"I'm glad it's here, on this course. I think it is a fantastic place," said Ballesteros, who launched the countdown to the match in Killenard yesterday. The actual qualifying started with last week's HSBC Champions tournament last week.

"The course can play easy or tough, depending on how it is set up and depending on the weather. Personally, I would like to see good scores in the match, not winning the holes with bogeys and making mistakes.

"I would like to see someone playing well to win the hole."

In a change from the previous four Seve Trophy matches, next year's match will have non-competing captains. Nick Faldo, who will be captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team for the 2008 match in Valhalla, will be in charge of the B and I team, while Ballesteros himself will again captain the continental Europeans but, this time, in a non-playing role.

"I changed the system because I felt it would make the competition more serious," explained Ballesteros, who added: "I think the Seve Trophy has been good for the Ryder Cup and good for golf. By not letting the captains play, it is improving the competition and it helps the Ryder Cup because the more matchplay you play the better you are."

While Faldo (who won't play again until next year's British Open as he concentrates on his television work in the US and on his growing portfolio of golf course designs) was absent from yesterday's launch of the 2007 Seve Trophy, the Englishman, an old sparring partner of Ballesteros, conveyed his feelings on captaining a team ahead of the Ryder Cup via video link from the Wentworth Club in Surrey.

"It's a good opportunity to communicate with the guys, to get to know them behind closed doors.

"Maybe a few magical pairings will come out of it that I will pay attention to . . . but you want to win. I won't be experimenting too much.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that Europe has remained undefeated in Ryder Cup matches since the Seve Trophy began in 2000."

Although the pair will be in opposing camps, neither, it appears, is willing to contemplate losing. Just like the old days.