But when pressed on that Europe’s captain left everybody guessing again when he replied: “I heard that last week apparently – is that good enough? I’m just reading what I see in the paper really.”

The Welshman was adamant that he did not want to discuss individual players.

He added: “I just said what I just said. I’m not going to talk about anybody because I think it’s unfair.”

Before announcing his two wild cards, of course, Woosnam needs to know who are the 10 to qualify automatically.

Seven are now certain – Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey, David Howell, uncapped Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson and also Luke Donald, whom Woosnam will try to get to know better this week after being granted his request to play with him in the first two rounds.

Jose Maria Olazabal and Dubliners Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley - desperate, of course, to play in the first-ever match on Irish soil – are in position to join them with four rounds left, but Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors, John Bickerton and Thomas Bjorn could yet climb into the top 10.

Controversially, Olazabal has decided not to play in Germany. He says he needs a rest, has not done well in the tournament in the past and has not been contacted by Woosnam about it.

“He wants to do what he wants to do,” responded the captain. “He obviously doesn’t feel like this is one of his favourite golf courses.

“I must say he’s left himself a little bit vulnerable and he knows the situation. But that’s his decision. I respect that.”

Harrington and McGinley, World Cup as well as Ryder Cup winners together and friends for over 15 years, can determine the fate of each other and have been paired together for the opening 36 holes – amazingly for the first time in their tour careers as far as both can remember.

The former is heavily odds-on to remain in the side, but at 10th in the table McGinley is back where he was two and five years ago. Fighting for his place.

If Broadhurst, Edfors and Bickerton do not appear on the leaderboard, though, he is safe.

For Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Bjorn and possibly some other names Woosnam has no intention letting slip, the week is about trying to impress in the hope of being given a wild card.

“We’ve got so many good players we can almost make up two teams now,” said Woosnam. “I think it’s going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

“I’ve got a lot of friends out there, a lot of friends I know are desperate to be on the team. But at the end of the day I’ve got to pick the right two players who I think are going to be strongest for the team.

“If I had to decide today I most probably know who I would pick. But there’s a big tournament to come.”

There is not a player on either team, of course, who would not be delighted to see Clarke back on the scene and involved in what is an historic week for Irish golf.

Casey was one of the rookies in Detroit last time and recalled: “Darren Clarke was brilliant that week, the words he said.

“He brought guys aside and would give you words of encouragement. It was a very, very comfortable feeling.

“We’re all part of a family and he is still part of that family. We’re certainly looking forward to getting him back. I’m not sure which event that’s going to be, but we’re going to make him feel very, very at home and do everything we can.

“Woosie is the only guy who can tell you who he’s going to pick. All I know is when Darren Clarke in on his game he’s one of the finest in the world – an unbelievable golfer.”