"It's talked about more than Tiger: can it be more important than Tiger?" Nick Faldo was attempting to interject some levity here yesterday into the remorseless pursuit of Ryder Cup insights, in the countdown to the announcement of the US and European teams. While the Englishman was talking, one was aware that, deep down, his primary concern was the USPGA Championship, which starts at Winged Foot tomorrow. Certainly, a win on Sunday would guarantee Faldo's appearance at Valderrama, but, to the winner of six other Majors, the elusive title holds eminently greater appeal.

Still, he was prepared to play the game. Did he deserve to be chosen as one of the captain's two wild card choices, given that it would appear to be a three-way battle between himself, Jose-Maria Olazabal and Jesper Parnevik? "We know he's (Seve Ballesteros) going to pick Ollie," Faldo replied without rancour.

He went on: "If you want to pick a guy, you go for an experienced head. If Seve had won the Los Angeles Open (which Faldo did on March 2nd of this year), he would be in my team. In fact, I would have thought my credentials were pretty good in that I also finished second, third and fourth in Europe."

This was a reference to the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia last January, where he was fourth, the Volvo PGA Championship in which he, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els were tied second behind Ian Woosnam, and the Murphy's Irish Open in which he was third behind Colin Montgomerie.

"I wouldn't want to miss out on the Ryder Cup," went on the Englishman, who equalled Christy O'Connor's record of 10 successive appearances as the hero of Oak Hill in 1995. "I've done it 10 straight times and I want to set a record by playing 11.

"Seve hasn't said one word to me but I'm sure he has everything under control. I assume I've got to battle on and this week is obviously my last chance. I don't think I could have changed my schedule to give myself more qualifying chances. When you're game's a little off, it's tough to change your schedule."

Though the problem with his game seems to be mainly a fragile putting stroke, Faldo has decided to adjust his swing to avoid blocking himself. "Rotation is the key," he said. In the process, he is prepared to abandon his traditional fade in favour of a slight draw.

As for putting: "I have returned to my old shoulder motion," he said. "That will be the main focus of my practice over the next two days. I feel I've got a good chance of making a strong challenge this week."

Ireland's Clarke and Padraig Harrington are not yet at the stage where they would feel comfortable making such bold predictions. But the Ulsterman is prepared to look beyond the cut. "I would like to improve on my US Open performance at Congressional (tied 43rd), probably with a top-20 finish," he said.

He had been on the course for a practice round at dawn with Montgomerie and Lee Westwood before the sun got too high in the sky. And we were observing Monty Mark II. This was a slimline Scot who has shed 17lb since the Irish Open through intensive use of the gym and swimming pool at his new, £3 million mansion in Surrey.

Prior to his victory in Dubai last year, Montgomerie had lost 27lb, but he conceded that more than half of it had gone back on again. "You have got to be fit to play in these conditions," he said, by way of admitting that his surplus weight was a considerable handicap in the sweltering heat of a failed US Open challenge at Oakmont three years ago.

Clarke is also watching his weight, but not to the same degree. "My priority now is to concentrate on fading the ball and not get caught between swings, as I did in the British Open," he said. Like the other contestants, he is aware of the importance of straight driving on this highly demanding course.

The point was emphasised by his play of the 535-yard 12th, an inviting dog-leg left. Giving his driver the full treatment, Clarke caught sight of the ball bouncing into the semi-rough on the left before it disappeared. It could have gone no more than a yard into the serious rough, but it couldn't be found.

"This is more difficult than Congressional, mainly because the trees are closer to the fairway and more in play," he said. "And like the US Open, you have to use the driver." That much was certainly obvious from the trio's play of the 448-yard 18th.

"Some finish this," said Montgomerie to no one in particular. With that, he hit his usually solid drive and was left with a fiveiron shot of 180 yards to the elevated green. The ball finished in the left fringe. He then hit another one which finished in the right fringe.

Clarke goes on from here to the World Series at Akron, rather than the Smurfit European Open. "I feel I've got to take advantage of another chance of competing against the top players," he said. "I'm still going for the Order of Merit title in Europe and I know I'll need to play well to do it."

Up to now, top-level opportunities in America have been somewhat limited for Clarke who has appeared in only three US Opens (1994, 1996 and 1997), is making his USPGA debut this week and has yet to play in the Masters.

Meanwhile, Harrington was also tinkering with his swing as he practised yesterday with fellow Europeans Ignacio Garrido, Olazabal and Costantino Rocca. All four are serious challengers for Ryder Cup honours next month.

But the Dubliner's prospects have been greatly enhanced by the news of MiguelAngel Martin. Currently ninth in the Ryder Cup standings, the Spaniard is unlikely to play again this year because of a hand operation.

"I haven't heard anything definite about this but either way, you don't like to be dependent on another player's problems," said Harrington, who is 11th, a place behind Rocca. "As far as I'm concerned, I have three chances left to make the team and I intend to make the best of them."

Like Clarke, he is making his debut in this championship and is equally impressed about the quality of the course. "Accuracy off the tee is a must," he said. "For that reason, I have decided to concentrate on fading the ball this week. It may mean conceding some distance but I'm satisfied it's the right thing to do."

Unlike Clarke, he is returning to Dublin next week for the European Open. "I may go back to drawing the ball at The K Club," he said, with a smile. Harrington is also spending considerable time on his short game, particularly his putting which was a serious disappointment in the Czech Open last weekend.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods was insisting "You've got to stay below the hole at all costs." And as he continued to talk of the impending championship and the difficulty of Winged Foot, nobody thought to ask him about the Ryder Cup.