The rumour spread amongst incredulous reaction in the caddie shack in Cologne last Saturday that Seve Ballesteros was going to get the last place in the World Match Play in Wentworth this week. Pedro, Seve's Argentinian caddie had booked a room in a hotel in Ascot from Monday (till Thursday they tittered) was the word in the 'caddie lounge' behind the Gut Larchenhof range.

Colin Montgomerie almost choked on his pizza as the word reached him at an end table in the lounge. Colin prefers to dine with the caddies despite a sumptuous spread in the players lounge, he enjoys the banter and the menu. He interrupted his munching with a raised eyebrow and a mild splutter on his Hawaiian pizza.

"That could only mean two things," he replied at the astonishing news. "Either Seve has booked in with Denis Pugh for a lesson at the Wisley Golf Club next week or he is indeed playing in the Match Play."

Seve made the cut in Switzerland a few weeks back and nobody seems to be able to tell us when he last made a cut before that. The only reason he has a chance in Crans Montana is because he redesigned the course with its seemingly impossible greens.

Given that he misses most greens anyway it is a bit of a leveller to ensure through the sloping nature of the greens there that most in form golfers will also miss the greens despite landing well on them .

It is on the periphery of the putting surfaces that Seve still excels, his short game has not worn with age, he could still get 'up and down' from a ball washer. So Switzerland was Pedro's first and last modest percentage cheque with his boss this year. Seve's invitation to the Wentworth event has salvaged the Argentinian's otherwise disastrous year.

With a guaranteed first round loser cheque of £50,000, Pedro can recoup some of the losses that one incurs caddying for the past master Ballesteros these days.To caddie for the legend today you need to be driven by a strong sense of nostalgia.

This is probably what the sponsors of the Match Play have in mind with the extraordinary choice. We are all aware that Seve still draws a big following wherever he plays.

He still has enormous charisma, and charm when he feels like it. But to watch his reaction to yet another wild slash off yet another tee as everyone around bellows fore left or right would make you wonder why he puts himself through it all. Santander can't be that bad a place to be.

We are all aware that the majors have special places for past legends like Player, Palmer and Seve. But a major with a full field can absorb the nostalgia trips. A 12-man event like the Match Play cannot. In fact it is an insult to the rest of the field to include such a defunct player.

The more cynical suggestions were that Seve was about to sign with International Management Group (IMG), the tournament promoters and player management group, and the invite was a sweetener for the Spaniard.

Some say that Mark McCormack the IMG boss has got the final word in who plays in 'his' event. Others say that it is entirely the Sponsor Cisco's decision.

Whoever is responsible for concocting the Match Play field they may want to pay attention to the integrity of the event with their current invitation policy. The World Match Play used to attract a star-studded field of in-form players. Current major champions and order of merit leaders played head to head over 36 holes.

The standard of golf was almost guaranteed to be of the highest quality. Amongst the best players in the world, it was considered a prestigious event to win.

World golf events have been curtailed by the terrorist activities over the past month. The American golfers have opted to stay at home. John Daly agreed to play in the German Masters last week if a private jet flew him from home and back again, he would not fly commercially in the present uncertain security climate.

He was also offered a slot in the Match Play, but his apparent request for a financial incentive was not entertained by the sponsors despite trying to give the event a transatlantic flavour. Vijay Singh and Mike Weir are the only US Tour players in this weeks event.

There are many European Tour players that could justifiably feel peeved at their exclusion.

With Ian Woosnam at 63rd in the World Rankings and Nick Faldo at 91st and Seve deep in the bowels of the World Rankings it is obvious that the World Match Play has become nothing more than a showpiece for IMG who are of course milking the cash cow of golf events from every teat. Nine of the 12-man field are IMG players.

Monty quite rightly suggested that the Matchplay would produce a quality final. It probably will, but why bother with such a sham of a preamble?