ASH, England (PA) -- Two weeks before they return to the British Open, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, the two men in last year's playoff at Carnoustie, can do European Ryder Cup Captain Nick Faldo a favor at The London Club this week.

The countdown to Royal Birkdale continues with the $4.8 million European Open, which switches to Kent after 13 years at The K Club near Dublin, Ireland.

The tournament also marks the first time Harrington and Garcia have played together on British soil since last July's British Open, but almost inevitably there are Ryder Cup implications as well.

Garcia, despite his victory in May in the prestigious Players Championship in Florida, is in danger of dropping out of the top 10 in Europe's standings.

Harrington is already outside an automatic selection spot -- and if both of them need wild cards come the end of next month, then Faldo's hand could well be forced.

That in turn, of course, is bad news for the likes of back-to-form Colin Montgomerie, the currently out-of-action Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter. They are not in the top 10, either.

For Harrington and Garcia, though, the first priority is to see signs of the form that could bring the Irishman a repeat triumph in two weeks -- he has not won since Carnoustie -- or bring the Spaniard instant amends for last year's heart-breaking near-miss.

Four clear early in the final round, Garcia would have lifted his first major title with a closing par after Harrington had double-bogeyed the hole. But his eight-footer failed by a fraction and he lost the playoff.

"I've always told myself the same thing at the majors," said Garcia. "I try to ask myself to play well, to give myself chances and try to win as many as possible. I've had my chances, so that's one goal accomplished. Now we have to try to get it to the next level and hopefully start winning majors.

"That's what we're here for and that's what we work hard for," he explained. "I think all these years have really made me mature and get myself to know even better myself as a golfer and as a person and kind of control myself even better when I'm coming down the stretch.

"We'll see if we can start achieving that."

Montgomerie is this week's defending champion, but good though last week's runners-up finish in France was for his confidence -- it was easily his best display of the year -- retaining his title now would be on a totally different level.

As well as Harrington and Garcia, world No. 9 Justin Rose is playing and eager to secure a Ryder Cup debut for himself after the disappointment of missing the halfway cut at the U.S. Open.

"Basically I've got five weeks in England, which will be great," said Rose. "For me, the U.S. Open is history now. I've got to put it behind me and get ready for the next big challenge."

Birkdale, of course, is where 10 years ago he finished an amazing fourth, only two strokes away from the playoff, as a 17-year-old amateur.

Montgomerie, back up to 77th in the world, also made a move to 14th on the Ryder Cup table and retaining the title could see him up to sixth on Sunday night.

"I know that it's a different golf course, but I have played The London Club a few times and I have gained some confidence, so I look forward to it now," he said.

Shock French Open winner Pablo Larrazabal is having the week off and will return at next week's Scottish Open, but Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are in action again and seeking a top-5 finish to qualify for the British Open.

What also makes the European Open notable is that it will mark the start of the Tour's drug-testing era, although no details are being given on when exactly the first samples will be taken from players.

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