GOLF/Ryder Cup News: Nick Faldo wants this month's Ryder Cup to be "as competitive as possible and as sporting as possible". Faldo, the most capped player in the history of the event, will be at The Belfry in three weeks' time in a commentating rather than playing role.

The atmosphere going into the match will be different to any other because of the 12-month postponement caused by the terrorist attacks in the United States last year.

But Faldo, speaking yesterday on the eve of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, said: "It was tragic, but it's a year on and I hope it's not dwelled on.

"Hopefully the intensity is the same and we just get back to what the meaning of the Ryder Cup is all about - 24 men being as competitive as possible and as sporting as possible."

The last clash in Boston three years ago ended, of course, in controversy with a premature American invasion of the 17th green when Justin Leonard holed a monster putt against Jose Maria Olazabal.

"That was just a heat of the moment thing, simple as that," added Faldo, whose only part at Brookline was to have a good luck letter to the team thrown in a bin by then captain Mark James.

"The bad one was Kiawah in 1991. There was a nasty feeling as soon as they showed the famous Ryder Cup film which didn't contain any European players.

"It was the welcoming dinner, which made it even worse. I think Tony Jacklin made it when Jack Nicklaus put his arm around him, but I think that was it.

"We had the 'War on the Shore', they had the camouflage caps and it was pretty intense off the golf course.

"It wasn't the players. It is the officials and stuff like that. Players are going to be competitive in the heat of the battle, but it was all of the other sideshow that was creating the atmosphere."

Faldo feels he can appreciate how some of Sam Torrance's side might be feeling as the contest draws closer.

"We all knew it was going to happen that some players would be searching for their form. They will feel under pressure, but the key bit will be determination."

Torrance has two less things to worry about after Thomas Bjorn and Bernhard Langer finished first and joint second in Munich last Sunday.

Lee Westwood, 144th in the order of merit last week, and Phillip Price will be the ones in the spotlight this week as they bid to climb back into the world's top 100.