SEVE BALLESTEROS yesterday performed his first task since his Ryder Cup appointment, and gave Philip Walton a glimpse of the future. Ballesteros, returning to competitive golf after a five month break, led height of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team into action against Africa in the Sahara Cup curtain raiser to the Moroccan Open in Rabat.
The Spaniard made a winning start by captaining his 10 man team to a 3-2 victory in which Ireland's Ryder Cup hero partnered England's David Gilford in the four ball medal match play format to a win over Moroccan Mohamed Makroune and South African Hendrik Buhrman.
They scored a three under par 69 to 71, after Ballesteros and Sam Torrance had made up for the surprise loss of the first two games by beating Ian Palmer and Roger Wessels. Europe's other winners were Mark James and Howard Clark.
"It was a practice run out for Valderrama 97," smiled Walton after fulfilling Seve's expectations that the Irishman and the softly spoken Englishman would be a perfect combination. "They are the two quiet men of golf, and can keep all their secrets to themselves," said Ballesteros, after he had masterminded Europe's third win in four encounters.
It is a new look Ballesteros who plays his first event since his singles defeat by Tom Lehman at Oak Hill, in which he failed to hit any of the first nine fairways or greens in regulation. He has slimmed down by 12lb, has a new club contract with Cobra, and a new caddie, Englishman Martin Gray However, judging by his opening two shots, which hit trees, he, is still some way from curing his problems.
It will not be easy to come back after such a long break," he said. My confidence is not good because of my lack of competition and it will take time to get back to normal. I ask all my supporters to be patient."
Walton will also play with Gilford in the first two rounds, when the third man will be defending champion James, another of the Oak Hill heroes. Walton failed to survive the halfway cut here in 1992. "This time I won't make that mistake. I am hitting the ball solidly," he said. "I have" a new driver, and I remember that a golfer with a long putter won last year."
Eamonn Darcy has brought his stretched putter to Rabat, but has decided to defer taking the plunge until he has given a thorough test to a tip from Frenchman Jean Van der Velde. "Jean told me that I was trapping the ball as I, putted because I was lifting the club on my take away," said Darcy. "I am going to start by trying to get a smoother stroke.
Christy O'Connor Jnr did not think he would be able to play at all this season after being afflicted by tennis elbow in his left arm. Cortisone treatment during the winter failed to cure the trouble and it was not until he had a "last chance" injection with a new drug from a local specialist, that, he was able to hit a ball after a nine week lay off. "The pains' was worse than a severe toothache when I tried to play golf," he said, "but now there is only a slight twinge, provided I wear a support over the elbow joint."
Darren Clarke is unhappy about his early season form and spent two days with coach Bob Torrance last week. "He told me I was taking the club back too straight and that was why I was hitting left," said Clarke.
Des Smyth also returns to action after his three week spell in South Africa. John McHenry and Padraig Harrington will be looking to build on their encouraging start to the new campaign, while Raymond Burns is feeling confident after finding he is able to open his shoulders on this renowned Trent-Jones design which is playing every inch of its 7,359 yards., Francis Howley, David Higgins and Jimmy Heggarty also tee up the £350,000 event which otters a first prize of £58,350.
