Players in a select field of 66 went about their work yesterday in preparation for the £1 million Volvo Masters, which starts here at rain-sodden Montecastillo this morning. But the mood was unmistakably sombre as they attempted to come to terms with the tragic loss of one of their own.

To coincide with the memorial service for Payne Stewart in the US tomorrow, his European colleagues here will gather around the 18th green where they will be led in prayer by Bernhard Langer.

Meanwhile, recent Ryder Cup opponent Colin Montgomerie found it difficult in the circumstances to give serious thought to the tournament.

"None of this really matters very much," he said quietly. This from a man for whom the end-of-season event has become his raison d'etre, as winner of the European Order of Merit for the last six seasons.

But things are different this time - and for a reason other than Stewart's untimely passing. The inaugural WGC American Express Championship at Valderrama next week, with a prize fund of Stg £3 million, means the Volvo Masters will no longer decide the Order of Merit.

The mathematics are simple: top prize next Sunday is £166,000; top prize a week later is £660,000. So Montgomerie's lead of £400,000 on Lee Westwood at the top of the table remains vulnerable, while Sergio Garcia, after just 10 events, is only a further £10,000 behind in third place.

"The distortion in prize money is undoubtedly a factor," said the Scot. "I can win six events, but somebody can win only one and come away with the same amount of money. That's not just my view; there are a number of players thinking the same way."

He then added pointedly: "But tours, money, rankings all go back into perspective after Payne Stewart's death. I have planned my schedule for next year, but who knows what is going to happen around the corner?"

Meanwhile, Irish rivals Padraig Harrington (sixth with £513,291) and Darren Clarke (seventh with £463,746) are engaged in a different sort of battle, though neither would admit it yesterday. Was Clarke anxious to defend his status as the leading Irishman on tour in recent years? "I want to finish as high up the table as I can," he replied.

Harrington effectively paraphrased those words when asked what it would mean to him to emerge as leading Irishman. And the third Irish competitor here, Paul McGinley, has set his sights on a strong performance as part of his build-up to the World Cup as Harrington's partner in Kuala Lumpur next month.

Another crucial target for Harrington, currently ranked 54th in the world, is to earn a place in the top-50 to gain automatic qualification for the US Masters next April. And he believes that a putter made famous by two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw can make it possible.

He has gone back to the traditional blade putter from which he was once inseparable. The particular model he used was endorsed by Tom Watson for Ram, but he has now turned to the almost identical Wilson 8802, which is preferred by Crenshaw.

"I especially like the feel it gives me with 20-footers, though I would probably be more accurate with a square-faced putter from three or four feet," he said. "It's really a matter of compromising and hoping for the best."

Clarke, who captured this title in some style last year when he shot a final round of 63, likes his chances of a repeat victory. "It's always nice to come back to a course where you've been successful," he said. "And I'm hitting the ball very solidly right now and I like my chances. I'm looking to win."

Montecastillo will be a vastly different proposition, however, from 12 months ago. The Jack Nicklaus layout, close-by the Jerez grand prix circuit, has taken a dreadful pasting from the weather, with 200 millimetres of rain in the last week. It meant yesterday's pro-am was reduced to nine holes.

"This is the wettest course we have played," said Montgomerie, with some emphasis. But Clarke was delighted with how well the greens had drained, to the extent that they are putting beautifully, in his view.

Still, a lot of muddy shoes were evident as players returned from the course for some putting practice. Among them was Garcia, sporting a modified pair of adidas from the ones he kicked off in disgust after slipping on the 16th tee during the recent World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.

Apparently, new studs have been fitted, which should be appropriate to the conditions. Given the company's reported investment of $10 million in the 19-year-old Spaniard, however, it is hardly surprising that custom-made shoes are in the pipeline for him from their factory in Taiwan for next season.

Then there are his studies. As the very model of a modern tour professional, Garcia plans to complete his high-school studies on the Internet. He is even inquiring as to whether it may be feasible to do his exams on the web. And what of the temptation to cheat? "No, no," he replied. "I would approach the exams the same way I approach golf."

And his subjects? "I am studying maths, literature, English and philosophy." Would that be Greek or modern philosophy, inquired one of my more erudite brethren. "In Spain, there is only one philosophy," Garcia asserted, to which somebody muttered rather unkindly "Yes - maana."

Interestingly, Seve Ballesteros's wife, Carmen, was in the media centre while Garcia was being interviewed. Perhaps she was checking the charisma factor which, it has to be said, is not yet up to the Ballesteros level. But the lad is getting there, in leaps and bounds.

It's also nice to know that his family are benefiting from his remarkable success, though he insisted that life for them had not changed at all. "We've just moved to a new house but my parents were building it a year ago," he said. "We needed more room."

Garcia then revealed that he intends to become a world player next season in the mould of Ernie Els, by splitting his activities between Europe and the US.

"I don't want to tie myself down just to one tour," he said. Which must be good news for enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic.