Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell have gained expected selection in the British and Irish side to defend the Walker Cup at Sea Island, Georgia, on August 11th and 12th. But as the newly-crowned European champions, Scotland will be disappointed at getting only two players in the 10-member line-up.

Whispers in Malmo last week about a possible cap for 32-year-old Welshman Nigel Edwards have become a reality in what could be termed a mild surprise. So, Scotland's Barry Hume has done no better than a place in the non-travelling reserves, alongside compatriot, Craig Watson.

The selectors haven't forgotten the pain of Interlachen in 1993, when a team of callow youths were given a 19-5 thrashing by the Americans.

"Yes, that has stayed in our minds," said the chairman of Royal and Ancient selectors, Peter Benka, yesterday. "We felt strongly that there had to be a balance, just like at Nairn two years ago."

With this is mind, Benka admitted that the 10 most talented players were not necessarily in the side. And he acknowledged that Scotland's 19-year-old Hume could be considered "unlucky", though he added: "We thought he would have come on a bit more than he did this year."

There was understandable Irish disappointment at losing to the Scots in the European final last Saturday, but it made not a whit of difference in Walker Cup terms. By the time the team for Malmo had been selected, Hoey and McDowell were the only serious candidates.

So, they now increase the country's all-time Walker Cup representation to 28, since the series was launched at the National GC, Long Island, in 1922. Hoey made certain of selection by capturing the British Amateur Championship last month, while McDowell is greatly admired by Walker Cup skipper, Peter McEvoy, who described him as being as fit "as a butcher's dog".

Indeed success in the US, where McDowell has impressed as a player at the University of Alabama, is considered extremely important by McEvoy.

"In our attempt at becoming the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the US, we want players who have shown they can win away from home," he said.

"The Americans know about players such as Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Nick Dougherty and Jamie Elson, because they have won over there. They respect them, which has to be a huge factor in matchplay."

In this context, the presence of Donald represents a significant boost to British and Irish hopes. Though the Americans like to believe that Bryce Molder is currently the best amateur in the world, Donald happened to beat him by 3 and 2 at Nairn two years ago. And the 23-year-old from Beaconsfield has come on considerably since then, with a reported professional contract of $2 million awaiting him after the Walker Cup is over.

He is one of five English representatives in the team, while he and Gary Wolstenholme are the only survivors from Nairn, where Ireland's Paddy Gribben was in the winning line-up. As it happened, Donald and his friend Paul Casey, who is now a professional, both took four points out of four.

As recently as last Tuesday in Sweden, Donald took the European Championship by storm with a course-record 63 in the first qualifying round. Is he better than Molder?

"I believe he is," replied Benka. "Either way, we will soon find out." But the chairman of selectors insisted: "This will be a 10-man team in every sense, because of the humid conditions. I think it will be very difficult for a player to play 72 holes over the two days. So there will be a lot of rotating."

The Team (ages in parentheses)

Luke Donald (England 23)

Steven O'Hara (Scotland 20)

Michael Hoey (Ireland 22)

Nick Dougherty (England 19)

Nigel Edwards (Wales 32)

Jamie Elson (England 20)

Graeme McDowell (Ireland 21)

Richard McEvoy (England 22)

Marc Warren (Scotland 20)

Gary Wolstenholme (England 40)

Non-travelling reserves: Craig Watson (Scotland 35), Barry Hume (Scotland 19). Non-playing captain: Peter McEvoy (England).