Ryder Cup 2012: 7 Things We Learned from the Seve Trophy

While Justin Rose was winning the BMW Championship at the weekend, some of his top European colleagues were fighting it out for the Vivendi Seve Trophy at Saint Nom La Breteche near Paris.

With the 2012 European captain following the whole competition for insights, what were the key pointers he might have gained toward next year's Ryder Cup?

Big Tom Is Back

Who could forget Thomas Bjorn blowing the British Open at Sandwich in 2003 and handing the title to the little-known Ben Curtis from the U.S.?

Bjorn has been pretty much in the golfing doldrums ever since—at least until 2011. He won nothing for a total of eight years, drifting down the world and European rankings until triumphing by five shots at the Portuguese Open in 2010.

He missed the cut or didn't even play in 22 of the 31 majors after his Sandwich disappointment and has not played in the Ryder Cup since being on the winning team in 1997 and 2002.

Suddenly, in 2011, Bjorn has hit a rich vein of form. Inspired by his 2010 triumph to believe he could still hack it at the top of the game, he has won three tournaments this year, including the prestigious Johnny Walker and European Masters. More importantly, he finished fourth in the British Open.

Bjorn was a major factor in Europe, nearly catching Great Britain and Ireland at the weekend, including beating World No. 2 Lee Westwood in the singles matches.

His resurgence has taken him to No. 28 in the world, breaking into the top 30 alongside U.S. star Webb Simpson, and Bjorn is now a serious contender for the 2012 Ryder Cup team.

Dyson and Poulter Are Winners

Simon who?

You may hear a whole lot more about Simon Dyson in the next few years; he is now world No. 51. This was the third time he had been on the winning team in the Seve Trophy and played along similar lines to the Ryder Cup between Europe, GB and Ireland.

Dyson also won the Dutch KLM Open for the third time earlier this month, following his credible ninth place in the British Open.

Sometimes misunderstood because of his albino appearance, this golf can often match his competitive demeanour. He's out of the same mold as Ian Poulter, so it was no surprise that he paired up with Poulter to win a match—one of his three out of four wins over the weekend.

Dyson seems destined to continue to progress and, with his gritty Yorkshire determination, would be unlikely to let down Captain Olazabal next year if picked.

Matteo Manassero Is World Class

And he showed it by beating Ian Poulter in the Singles—no mean feat in this format of golf.

While Manassero started a little uncertain on the Friday and halved one other match, every match he was in went to the wire. He showed an unusually mature temperament for an 18-year-old.

Manassero will only get better and may well get a captain's pick in 2012 even if he doesn't make the team outright.

Lee Westwood Is on the Wane

Barring injury, World No. 2 Lee Westwood is a certainty for the European 2012 Ryder Cup. Jose Maria Olazabal will expect him to follow Colin Montgomery as the on-course leader in later years.

But Westwood's form is waning and largely due to his putting. While he is practising for hours with a new technique and has even called on the services of "Dr. Bob" Rotella—the great golf psychologist—Westwood continues to struggle in reproducing his 2010 form.

Although he played in all four matches of the weekend, Westwood won only two and lost a winning lead to Manassero in the singles.

Scott Jamieson Is a Prospect

Remember the name. The latest Scot to come off the production line made an impressive debut in the Seve Trophy, especially so because this is his rookie year on the European Tour.

Jamieson has already leaped more than 110 places in the World rankings to No. 53 and was therefore hardly a surprise pick by captain Paul McGinley.

Jamieson won all three of his matches, never having played at this level or in this format before, including thumping wins in the Fourballs and Greensomes.

The Scot has already stated his desire to play in next year's Ryder Cup, having been inspired by the legacy of Seve Ballesteros. It will be no surprise to good judges if he makes the team on merit.

Captain McGinley, Yes; Van Der Velde, No

Paul McGinley has long expressed a desire to captain the Ryder Cup team.

Following his showing this year and in the 2009 event as a winning captain, McGinley has earned his spurs as a possible contender to follow Jose Maria Olazabal after 2012.

While there was a question mark over his candidacy in some quarters, McGinley has acquitted himself well in this strikingly similar competition with many players who could form the caucus of a future Ryder Cup team.

Most of all, he has won the support of the players himself, who warmly recognised his leadership.

There were more question marks about whether Jean van der Velde would be a suitable candidate in future. His laid-back manner may ease tension, but he probably relied on the presence of Olazabal at the back of the room and the personal leadership of some of his more senior players to get close to GB and Ireland.

So Paul, yes; Jean, Non.

The Seve Trophy Deserves an Audience

Jose Maria Olazabal knows plenty about the Vivendi Trophy since his sadly-departed mate originated it. Together they starred in many Ryder Cups.

The format is similar, and the standard and intensity of the golf just as high. It may not draw the same crowds as the Ryder Cup or even the President's Trophy, but it deserves a worldwide audience—it certainly has a rapidly growing European TV following.

It is undoubtedly a proving ground for future Ryder Cup players and a stage for emerging talent.

Worth watching in 2013.