PAUL McGinley and Thomas Bjorn – high on Colin Montgomerie's wanted list as Ryder Cup vice-captains – would love nothing more than to force him into finding someone else.
And on yesterday's evidence at the Wales Open at next year's cup venue, Celtic Manor, the two still have it in their power to qualify for the side.
Bjorn, out-scoring American captain Corey Pavin by six shots, opened with a five-under-par 66 to sh
are the lead with England's Nick Dougherty, 49-year-old South African David Frost, and Scot Allan McLean.
Just two strokes off the lead are McLean's fellow-countrymen Callum Macaulay, Jason McCreadie, Gary Orr and Richie Ramsay, one ahead of Montgomerie.
McGinley, meanwhile, hit back from a triple-bogey seven on his second hole and signed for a three-under 68.
"If I don't make the team I am happy to help, but if I do then I will obviously play," said 38-year-old Bjorn, whose last appearance was in the 2002 victory at The Belfry. McGinley was the match-winner that week and was also part of the victorious next two sides, but missed out last year.
With an eye on next year's attempt to win back the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie has made the pair captains for September's Vivendi Trophy – the old Seve Trophy – between a Continental Europe side and one from Britain and Ireland.
But McGinley feels exactly the same as the Dane about his main goal. "I really want to make the team," said the 42-year-old, who stood down as an assistant to Nick Faldo because he felt it was a distraction to his playing career.
"I think Monty is going to be a great captain and I would love to play under him. Monty is going to announce who his vice-captains are going to be after qualifying finishes. Obviously, he's picked myself and Thomas to be involved in the Vivendi and I don't think you have to put one and one together."
While Montgomerie's 69 kept him in the hunt for a first top-ten finish for almost a year, Pavin said he got what he deserved. His 71 included a lost ball on the driveable 15th and he commented: "The course tests everything, but I just wasn't sharp."
Dougherty, who finished fourth in the event last year, played a magnificent chip at the last for his fifth birdie.
Ireland's Shane Lowry, who began his professional career with a six-over 78 last week, is in danger of a second successive missed cut after a scrambled six-over 77. "Horrendous – I don't know what happened," said the 22-year-old, whose Irish Open victory three weeks ago made him only the third amateur to win a European Tour event. I thought I played well in the pro-am, but I never got going."
European Open winner Christian Cevaer did not even complete his round. Five over after 12 holes the Frenchman quit because of dizziness and said: "The last few days have taken a terrible toll on me physically and mentally. I've hardly slept since Sunday due to a combination of my win and (management] problems off the course, which are causing me a lot of stress and turmoil. Pablo Larrazabal, Jeev Milkha Singh and Mads Vibe- Hastrup all enjoyed holes in one during yesterday's play.
