Former Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton made good use of a late call-up to the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland yesterday, and then dismissed a rumour he could be about to give up the game. Having arrived at the Alpine resort just after midnight, Walton fired an eventful three-under-par 68 to beat the likes of Lee Westwood, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo and stand only three behind Argentine leader Ricardo Gonzalez.

Six years ago the Dubliner was the man in the spotlight at Oak Hill, beating Jay Haas on the final hole to give Europe victory. As this month's match approaches, Walton's thoughts are far from The Belfry.

He no longer has a European tour card and, reliant mostly on sponsors' invitations, he is 168th on this year's Order of Merit.

But he vowed: "I'll be back at the tour qualifying school if I have to. I've heard the rumour that I might quit, but it's rubbish. I'm only 39 and there's plenty of time yet."

After eight holes he was three over par, but he played the next four in five under, and with two more birdies later on he set up the chance to avoid another week at the dreaded school - a trip he famously described as "like a prison sentence".

Gonzalez, biggest hitter on the European tour this season, finished the day a stroke ahead of Ryder Cup Dane Thomas Bjorn, Scots Dean Robertson and Gordon Brand Jnr, Swede Henrik Nystrom and German Thomas Gogele.

The start was delayed for 80 minutes because of frost and Westwood, arriving at the course with five layers on but only a cap, said: "I was freezing - as cold as I've been for a long time." Faldo also shot 70, while Els reckoned that the combination of altitude and low temperature caused him to misclub no fewer than six times in his level par 71.

Meanwhile, European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has backed the decision to reverse to fourballs to begin this year's campaign at The Belfry.

It is the option of the home captain whether to start with fourballs or foursomes.

In 1997, Severiano Ballesteros requested a change to fourballs - when each of the two players hits every shot and the better ball is the score on the hole - to begin the match at Valderrama.

Then, in 1999 at Brookline, the match reverted to a foursomes start - alternate shots are played to make the score - at the behest of American captain Ben Crenshaw.

For the match at the end of this month, Torrance decided to follow Ballesteros.

Torrance said: "I spoke to Seve and got his reason for it and I thought it was pretty sound. Also, I had my own reasons for it.

"I feel if I want to field my strongest four teams in the morning. If I'm going to blood anyone I would do that in the foursomes. There's a chance I'll bring some of the other guys in, but it depends on how they are playing."

But Torrance admitted it might be difficult to bring in any of his four rookies immediately if his experienced morning fourballs are likely to be less tired.

And because of the change of format, there is a chance the European rookies may not play until the Sunday's singles.

"I've got a strong team and it's going to be difficult to bring anyone in," added the European captain, leaving Ryder Cup analysts wondering if he may follow previous captain James and field all his strongest players only before the singles.

The switch has met with a certain amount of diffidence from America. The US PGA head of communications Julius Mason said: "It's the option of the home side which order the fourballs and foursomes come in, and because it's happened so much, it's not a big deal."