On June 19th, two days after this year's US Open at Southern Hills, Curtis Strange and Sam Torrance have a fascinating assignment in Rhode Island. It will involve a race on cigarette boats from Newport to the private dock of the splendid Carnegie Abbey golf course, owned by Peter de Savary and designed by Donald Steel.

There, the rival Ryder Cup captains will engage in the Battle by the Bay, a televised challenge match to be screened later this year as part of Shell's Wonderful World of Golf series. It will be the first time the popular series has visited Rhode Island. Carnegie Abbey, which was officially opened on July 1st last year, is the first Scottish-style course to be built in the region in more than 100 years.