Clarke, with five debutants on his team already as automatic qualifiers, did draw on some further experience as he revealed his three wildcards to take on Davis Love III’s US outfit, naming Lee Westwood for his tenth Ryder Cup appearance and two-time major champion Martin Kaymer.
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With the 2016 Ryder Cup to be held this time around at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, European captain Darren Clarke has finalized his squad after announcing his three captain’s picks at a press conference this morning in England.
Russell Knox misses out despite being the highest-ranked European of the non-qualifiers, rising to world No 20 following his win at the Travelers Championship earlier this month.
Pieters got the nod on the back of this hot run: Fourth place at the Olympics, second place at the Czech Masters, and then a victory at the Made in Denmark tournament where he birdied the last three holes to win on Sunday. All of the automatic qualifiers are in after the finish of The Barclays, but the guys on the edge of becoming a captain’s pick could end up determining whether or not the USA finally stops the European winning streak. “The discussions were long and thorough and we all came out with the agreement that Thomas merited the final pick”, said Clarke. “Prior to that, there was a few other contenders that I was thinking about, as well”.
“Every year there’s a guy in my position that doesn’t get picked and it’s a story right now but in a couple of weeks time when it all starts, I’m sure it’ll be forgotten that I’m not in the team”.
Team captain Darren Clarke was faced with a conundrum for Europe; did he add yet more inexperience to a side which already included five rookies, or rely on those whose past exploits entitled them to be part of the conversation? He’s played well this year, he was runner-up at Augusta and week in, week out he has been very solid.
“He’s a man I have a huge amount of trust and belief in”.
The third pick seems to be between Pieters, Scotland’s Russell Knox and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland who has played in each of the last four editions. Knox, like Pieters is, would have been another rookie on the European team.
“It’s certainly motivated me for the next three weeks”, said the 31-year-old Florida-based Scot.
It was only on sealing his long-term future with a World Golf Championship victory in China last November that he took up European Tour membership, and became eligible for the Ryder Cup. “Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald, in terms of experience, could have been in the three, but those two haven’t quite been on top of their own games”.
Clarke described breaking the news to Knox on Monday as the hardest phone call he’s ever had to make. “He’s played unbelievably well during the qualification period. But I’m sure I’ll be up for the task”. He obviously didn’t want to give me bad news but that was the decision he made. I am really glad for Thomas Pieters too – I played with him last week and was really impressed. “He’ll be somewhat like the general on the team”, Clarke said.
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“Kaymer brings experience, a two time major champion, and a player I admire and respect hugely”.
