The big winner at Lytham in terms of the scramble for spots was, of course, runner-up Niclas Fasth, up from 19th to sixth on the table with just eight events to go.

‘‘I’ve not thought about the Ryder Cup before this,’’ admitted the 29-year-old Swede, who just two years ago did not even hold a European tour card.

The big loser was Ian Woosnam, who might have gone from 18th to fifth, but because of his two-stroke ‘‘extra club’’ penalty is still only 12th.

Woosnam, £218,334 the poorer because he finished in a six-way tie for third rather than second on his own, is Torrance’s assistant for The Belfry, but has made it plain he will relinquish that role if he plays his way onto the side.

Bernhard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke were also joint third yesterday, while Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik were joint ninth. But of those only Clarke is in the top 10 on the cup table.

Langer, aware that Torrance has only two wild cards, is 14th on the table said: ‘‘I hope this sends Sam another message.

‘‘I was the best European in the Masters (sixth), second best in this and the best in the ‘fifth’ major, the Players’ Championship.’’

The 43-year-old German finished third at Sawgrass behind Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.

He has also had two second places on the US Tour this season and adds: ‘‘Hopefully he will consider me if I don’t make my way straight in.

‘‘I understand that other guys are playing well, but with my current form I believe I should be there. It’s a difficult situation and I don’t have many tournaments left to go.’’

Jimenez is 16th, Jose Maria Olazabal 17th, Garcia 18th and Parnevik 34th. They are all players Torrance would almost certainly want to be facing the Americans, but as things stand he is not going to have them all.

Just as worrying is that Colin Montgomerie’s fall from halfway leader in the Open to joint 13th means he is not guaranteed an automatic place yet.

The man Torrance described as his ‘‘rock’’ after he began this month by winning the Irish Open has been pushed down to seventh.

Opposite number Curtis Strange will be delighted that he has another major winner in his ranks now in Duval and will not linger on the fact that only four other Americans - Billy Mayfair, Kevin Sutherland, Loren Roberts and Billy Andrade were in the top 20 at Lytham.

His stars have already secured their places, though, and with only four more events before he names his two wild cards at the conclusion of the US PGA championship it is hard to think of him having sleepless nights.

Latest leading places in the European and United States Ryder Cup tables after The Open Championship:

EUROPE

1 D Clarke (N Ire) 1,921,301

2 T Bjorn (Den) 1,583,391

3 P Harrington (Ire) 1,535,549

4 P Fulke (Swe) 1,191,990

5 L Westwood (Eng) 1,064,353

6 N Fasth (Swe) 961,147

7 C Montgomerie (Sco) 895,274

8 P Price (Wal) 791,862

9 P McGinley (Ire) 759,242

10 A Coltart (Sco) 703,676

11 M Gronberg (Swe) 696,488, 12 I Woosnam (Wal) 673,298, 13 A Oldcorn (Sco) 651,685, 14 B Langer (Ger) 642,785, 15 R Karlsson (Swe) 641,104, 16 MA Jimenez (Spa) 628,421, 17 JM Olazabal (Spa) 617,626, 18 S Garcia (Spa) 617,236, 19 T Levet (Fra) £576,235, 20 I Poulter (Eng) 571,316

(1pt for every euro. Leading 10 qualify on September 2, captain Sam Torrance then adds two wild cards)

UNITED STATES

1 T Woods 2,447

2 P Mickelson 1,528

3 D Duval 1,010

4 D Love 749

5 M Calcavecchia 635

6 H Sutton 613

7 S Hoch 597

8 S Cink 586

9 T Lehman 543

10 J Durant 505

11 J Furyk 502, 12 D Toms 455, 13 B Faxon 451, 14 R Mediate 450, 15 F Lickliter 449

(Pts for top 10 finishes only. Leading 10 qualify on August 19, captain Curtis Strange then add two wild cards)