Countdown to the Ryder Cup is well and truly on and with the European Tour rolling into town for this week's Smurfit Kappa European Open at the K-Club the tour's leading lights will hope they have reason to return to this venue for the September (22nd-24th) showdown.

This week's action takes place over the second course - The Smurfit Course - rather than the original Palmer Course where the Europeans and Americans will do battle in little over 10 weeks time.

Those with aspirations of making Ian Woosnam's team will be striving to grab the many Ryder Cup points on offer this week in a tournament boasting a prize fund of €3,472,752.

Padraig Harrington, who currently holds an automatic spot on the home team courtesy of two runner-up finishes in the space of a week, (Booz Allen Classic and French Open), spearheads the 13-man strong Irish challenge.

The Dubliner set off at 8.10 am alongside Angel Cabrera and Paul Broadhurst and is level through seven.

Darren Clarke won this event back in 2001 - over the Palmer Course - and yesterday the Ulsterman reiterated his desire to follow Harrington and play his way onto the team.

"It's fantastic to see Padraig up there," said Clarke. " He's playing well again and has had a couple of chances to win recently . In terms of Ryder Cup it's certainly fantastic to see him playing well again. We need Padraig. The team needs Padraig."

Of his own desire Clarke added: "I want to be part of the team. I haven't looked to see where I am on the list and I haven't had many opportunities to play golf recently and that's been tough. I need to get my finger out if I am to make the team."

Clarke sets off at 12.50pm alongside defending champion Kenneth Ferrie and his ISM stablemate and close friend Lee Westwood, the latter in dire need of finding form after missing six cuts in a row.

On a calm, sunny morning at the Kildare venue Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts is the early pacesetter, one ahead of England's Paul Casey and South African Retief Goosen, on four-under-par. Goosen is playing in the same group as Graeme McDowell, who also started well to be two-under through eight

Phillip Walton, playing on the sponsor invite, is also two-under in the early stages of his round.

However, the news wasn't so good for Gary Murphy, who was four-over after five holes due to double bogeys at the first and fifth.