Americans will need to improve

Seve Ballesteros urges the Americans to put up a better fight in the Ryder Cup or risk the world losing interest.

LOUISVILLE // Seve Ballesteros has urged the Americans to put up a better fight when the Ryder Cup gets under way this week in Louisville - or risk the world losing interest in the competition. Europe have become increasingly dominant in recent years and claimed victory by a massive nine points at the K Club two years ago, something Balles- teros admits is hardly healthy.

Ballesteros said: "We've won the last three events and the domination by the Europeans is very clear. "In one way I'd like to see the Americans beating the Europeans because we're beating the Americans so clearly at the moment that the Ryder Cup is losing interest. "I wouldn't say the Americans don't want to compete, but if the victory is so one-sided then people from both sides of the Atlantic will lose interest."

Meanwhile, Ballesteros, who captained the European team beaten by a single point in Spain in 1997, gave his full backing to this year's captain Nick Faldo and his controversial wild-card picks. Faldo elected to leave out former heroes Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke in favour of Paul Casey and Ian Poulter and Ballesteros said: "Every time a captain makes his two picks the controversy is there.

"If Nick decides to play Casey and Poulter it's because he feels it's best for the team. Nick knows well the players and the game and he's been part of the Ryder Cup on six or seven occasions. "Poulter and Casey are two great champions and very good players. "Both have played in the Seve Trophy before and they have the experience so I don't see anything wrong with that." * PA Sport