Ballesteros Won’t Get His Extra Choices

After turning down Seve Ballesteros’ choice of venue, Europe’s Ryder Cup golf committee dealt the Spaniard another blow Tuesday when it turned down his request for four captain’s picks instead of two.

The Ryder Cup moves to Spain for the first time Sept. 26-28, with the Europeans defending the cup in Valderrama.

With stars such as Nick Faldo, Jesper Parnevik, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and team captain Ballesteros himself unlikely to make the top 10 in Ryder Cup points, Ballesteros had called for a players’ ballot to try to change the selection process to give him two more picks.

But the tournament committee of the PGA European Tour and the Ryder Cup committee quashed the idea, saying it could not legally change the selection process unless the players unanimously agreed.

Terry Noe, the top golfer for Long Beach State, will miss the next three tournaments after failing to meet the academic standards of the team, Coach Bob Livingstone said Tuesday. Noe, a freshman from Sunny Hills High, remains eligible under NCAA and Long Beach State requirements.