sentences:  The selection process for the European team remained largely unchanged from that used in 1995 with two captain's picks.If captain Ballesteros qualified automatically, he had the choice of standing down and selecting a third player.The qualifying period remained the same, starting with the Canon European Masters in Switzerland at the beginning of September 1996 and ending with the BMW International Open on 31 August, the remaining two team members being chosen soon afterwards by the team captain.