BLACKWOOD'S Bradley Dredge will be rewarded this week for a superb season that has seen him win over £500,000 in prize money when he lines up in the Great Britain and Ireland side for the prestigious Seve Trophy event, which gets underway tomorrow.

It is the first team matchplay event in Dredge's professional career and is the perfect preparation for Dredge's ultimate ambition, a place in the European Ryder Cup side.

Dredge, who is in the top 20 on the Order of Merit for the first time in his career after a splendid season, will line up amongst some illustrious company as part of Colin Montgomerie's GB and Ireland team that will battle Jose Maria Olazabal's continental Europe side.

GB and Ireland have won the biennial event on the last two occasions, but taking part is good enough for Dredge, any thoughts about winning the event can wait.

He explained: "I'm really looking forward to being part of the Great Britain and Ireland side because, apart from the World Cup pairs event for Wales, I haven't been in a team event as a professional.

"For a lot of the guys, it's almost a bit of preparation for next year's Ryder Cup - a bit of practice under a similar format.

"It's good to be in that company for the first time and, hopefully, it will be good experience for me as I try to get into next year's Ryder Cup.

"It's always going to be a big goal for me - along with every other European player on tour - and, if I can keep playing the way I have been, I can give it a good shot over the next 12 months.

"I've had to watch the last couple of Ryder Cups on television but the team spirit always looks incredible. Hopefully this will be similar. I represented Great Britain and Ireland as an amateur in both the Eisenhower Trophy and the Walker Cup and they were great experiences - even if we did get slaughtered by the Americans in the Walker Cup!"

Dredge is expecting to link with fellow Welshman Stephen Dodd this week, ideal preparation for the World Cup in November.

"I think Monty might pair us together as the two Welshmen in the team," he said. "We know each other well and I'm sure we would play well together.

"I don't know Monty that well on the circuit but I'm sure I'll get to know him better. I'm sure he'll be quite personable with all of us."

GB and Ireland: non-playing captain Colin Montgomerie, Bradley Dredge, Stephen Dodd, Nick Dougherty, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, David Howell, Ian Poulter.

Continental Europe: non-playing captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Emanuele Canonica, Peter Hanson, Henrik Stenson, Maarten Lafeber, Jean-Francois Remesy, Thomas Bjrn, Niclas Fasth, Miguel Angel Jimnez.