Seve to partner Owen in Wynyard pro-am

Ballesteros arrived in the region yesterday ahead of the competition he has put his name to - the Seve Trophy - which starts on Thursday, and admitted he will be playing in tomorrow's pro-am at The Wynyard.

The two-time US Masters champion and three times winner of The Open will be teeing off alongside Owen and former Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards on the Wellington course, and he is relishing the prospect.

Ballesteros, a keen football fan, first met Owen at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards a couple of years ago and has watched the striker's career take him from Liverpool to Spain before moving to Tyneside in a £16m deal in August.

The legendary Spaniard is relishing the chance to meet up with Newcastle's new hero and even suggested Real Madrid were foolish to let him leave.

"I will be playing with Michael Owen on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to it," said Ballesteros, who is using the pro-am as a chance to test his own fitness, having been plagued by a back problem for three years.

"It will not be the first time I have met him but I have kept an eye on him since, especially as he moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid last year.

"It was a real pity for Real Madrid that Michael left. He did well out there and is a brilliant player. Newcastle know they have bought a great player."

Normally Ballesteros would be a playing captain in the Seve Trophy, the four-day Ryder Cup style tournament which pits Great Britain & Ireland against the rest of Europe, and would battle it out with Colin Montgomerie in the singles on the final day.

However, injury has prevented him from playing in this year's competition after being unable to compete on the European Tour for nearly three years.

Ballesteros has relinquished the captaincy and close friend Jose Maria Olazabal will take the reins this week, while the players are kept focused at the official hotel, Crathorne Hall, near Yarm.

Despite his ties with Continental Europe - who trail Great Britain and Ireland 2-1 in the series - Ballesteros insists he will not be pledging his allegiance to either side this time at The Wynyard.

"I will be remaining neutral," said Ballesteros, who also misses out on a chance to draw level against Montgomerie in the captains' section. "I have played in the three before and I am planning on taking a back seat and enjoying things from a spectator's point of view this time.

"It's all down to the two captains and I will be wishing them both luck. I wish all the players luck and it should make for an exciting few days as it is matchplay golf."

On Ballesteros' first and only visit to The Wynyard last October he suffered every golfer's worst nightmare - an opening tee shot that flew out of bounds.

He was impressed with the Wellington course then but has heard reports from his men keeping tabs on developments that it has improved and is ready for the big occasion.

"The reports I have been getting is that it's in perfect shape," said Ballesteros ahead of today's practice session, when all the 20 players are likely to test their game on the course.

Ballesteros feels fit enough to give the region a glimpse of the swing that first came to the attention of the British public at Royal Lytham in 1976, when he finished runner-up to Johnny Miller in The Open at just 19.

He plans to test his back in competitive action in the Madrid Open next month.

Meanwhile, Montgomerie's wild card selection, Paul Casey, has spoken of his delight at the opportunity to represent his country in the Seve Trophy.

Casey, who pipped Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie and Hartlepool's Graeme Storm for the call-up, was part of the 2004 Ryder Cup winning team at Oakland Hills.

He said: "I am thrilled to have been picked. I have played in the last two and I know it will be another tense and close encounter made all more exciting by the sports-mad North-East fans."