EUROPEAN stalwart Bernhard Langer will decide this morning whether he is able to take his place in Bernard Gallacher's team, that will this week attempt to wrest back the Ryder Cup from American hands.
''I am a little better and I hope to play. But either you're 100 per cent and play . . . or you don't play,'' said the 36-year-old German, ranked second in the world.
Langer has been troubled by a recurring neck injury which has restricted his swing since June's US Open. A recent deterioration has meant that the 1991 Hong Kong Open champion has not played a full competitive round since winning the German Open almost three weeks ago.
Langer arrived at The Belfry on Monday evening and said he would give himself 36 hours to prove his fitness.
As a precautionary measure, Gallacher has placed London-based Northern Irishman Ronan Rafferty on standby.
Said Gallacher: ''We have to have a deadline in a situation like this. It's only fair to Ronan, Bernhard and the team. If Bernhard feels a reaction he and I will have to reach a sensible decision. We have to enter the matches with 12 fully fit players, not 11-and-a-half.
