Seve Ballesteros last played in a Ryder Cup 16 years ago when he played some miraculous shots before losing to Tom Lehman 4 & 3 in the singles at Oak Hill near New York.
Despite the defeat signalling the end of his days as a player, it was the third time the great man had appeared in a winning European side during eight appearances over three gilded decades.
Ballesteros was the winning captain when Europe regained the Ryder Cup from the US in Valderrama two years later.
Ballesteros continues to recover personal ground two years after he came through surgery for a brain tumour. He continues to hold the future of golf's most illuminated tournament close to his heart.
The European team dedicated last year's one-point win at Celtic Manor to Ballesteros, who spoke to the team on the eve and throughout those memorable matches.
There is no event in golf that stirs the loins as much as the Ryder Cup. There is no player comparable to Ballesteros in the storied history of the event, certainly not from a European perspective.
When Seve speaks about the Ryder Cup, he speaks from the heart. His words make a lot of sense.
"Everything in life can improve, and sometimes changes can be beneficial," said Ballesteros.
"The event could go to four competition days. I think this would be good for everyone.
"From the players' point of view, because being at a venue from the Monday and waiting four days to play (on the Friday) it is sometimes very long in my opinion. You really want to play and start the competition."
Ballesteros feels that it is time for the Ryder Cup to increase its schedule from three to four days. This is an option that Bunker Mentality wholeheartedly endorses.
BM would like to see every player involved on the first three days of play before the singles are concluded on Sunday.
Wind and rain forced the tournament to continue into the Monday at Celtic Manor last October. It never detracted from the theatre of the event as Europe managed to hold off a strong American recovery in the singles to win by a single point.
Rather than the opening two days being a series of four foursomes and fourballs, BM would like to see an extra series of matches added to the Thursday before the closing 12 singles matches to embrace the natural lifespan of a golf tournament.
This how we believe it should work:
Day One (Thursday)
Four Fourballs
Four Foursomes
Day Two (Friday)
Four Foursomes
Four Fourballs
Day Three (Saturday)
Four Fourballs
Four Foursomes
Day Four (Sunday)
12 Singles
Total points available = 36
First team to 18.5 wins the Ryder Cup.
Defending team requires 18 to retain the trophy.
Ballesteros has been campaigning hard for Madrid to win the right to
host the tournament in 2018. Hopefully, such changes could by implemented
before then.
It is not rocket science, but it would be a natural way for the tournament to evolve while also giving the paying fan more golf. It would surely be endorsed by television companies and sponsors.
There is more than enough appetite for an extra day. It would give players on both teams the feeling that they are involved in the tournament before the singles polish off the event. None of the 12 players would be left cold going into the final day.
Ballesteros won five majors. He was a former world number one. He continues to talk as well as he used to play the game.
Win of the week
Life begins at 39 for Thomas Bjorn, who is suddenly back in the winner's enclosure after picking up the Qatar Masters in Doha. Bjorn won the tournament by four strokes.
It was his first victory since he collected the Portuguese Open last June. The Ryder Cup vice-captain has ambitions of playing his way into the team.
With Jose Maria Olazabal opting to return to the days of two picks rather than three for the European captain, chances may be slim, but we wish the big Dane well in his pursuit of the Holy Grail.
Tweet of the week
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy looks forward to breaking bread with the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu after the cricket-worshipping South African joined Freddie Flintoff in being awarded Honorary Life Membership of the MCC.
"Can't wait to have a pint in the MCC members bar with Des Tutu, he is an amazing man had dinner with him years ago, jaeger bombs all round," tweeted McIlroy from Dubai, where is preparing for the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Not sure Tutu will be up for mixing Jagermeister with energy drinks, however spiritual he is.
Warning of the week
Colin Montgomerie is not expecting miracles from Jose Maria Olazabal as a player during his stint as captain of Europe's Ryder Cup side.
"Ollie's golf will undoubtedly suffer," said Montgomerie. "I know he is trying to rebuild after his struggles with injury, but he is competing against opponents who are practising harder because they have the time.
"In effect, he has given up his career for two years, as I did, for a bigger goal than individual success."
Bunker Mentality knows it may sound a bit over-optimistic, but we continue to hanker after the day when a captain plays his way into his own team.