There will be plenty of talk about the forthcoming Ryder Cup during the West Region PGA Cornish Festival as David J Russell, one of European captain Ian Woosnam's right hand men, is taking part for the first time.

He won twice on the European Tour and is one of three current members of the European Seniors' Tour in the 90-strong field competing at Trevose, St Enodoc and Newquay from April 25-27.

He is based at Archerfield Links in Scotland where he designed two links courses and is already showing brilliant form.

He finished eighth in the seniors' order of merit last year with four second places. He again finished runner-up in the opening event this year in Barbados and is looking forward to his Cornish festival debut.

Bournemouth-based Kevin Spurgeon, who was Rookie of the Year in his first season as a senior, and Sheffield's Martin Poxon, who first played on the European Tour in 1997, are the others.

The field also includes Steven Richardson, a former Ryder Cup player who made his Cornwall debut last year, and former England footballer Matt Le Tissier.

The Sky Sports football expert is now a regular in the festival and plays in his club pro Ben Johnson's Bramshott Hill team who finished sixth in 2004.

Local favourite, former Walker Cup player Philip Rowe, who is now attached to Trevose, also leads a home team. He is now qualified to play in regional events after finishing in the top 80 on the Europro Tour last year. New Trevose pro Gary Lenaghan is also playing.

Tournament controller Richard Bowden has extended the closing date to accommodate late entries.