“But when you look at form, the Ryder Cup is still a month away”.
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Pieters is one of six rookies and no previous European team has won in the United States with such a callow line-up.
Chasing a fourth straight Ryder Cup triumph, Europe unveiled Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters on Tuesday for the golf showdown that tees off at Hazeltine on September 30. They are old friends, epic Ryder Cup partners, and Clarke knows he can trust the Englishman. “He will be a star”.
Clarke’s first two selections did not come to anyone’s surprise as he called up veterans Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.
He had sleepless nights over his final selection.
“Let’s be honest, it came down to Thomas Pieters or me”.
Belgian Thomas Pieters birdied the last three holes to card a final-round 65 and win the Made in Denmark title on Sunday, boosting his hopes of a place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
Pieters, 24, was picked ahead of Scotland’s Russell Knox, having bolstered his case for inclusion with a stunning opening round of 62 alongside Clarke at last week’s Made in Denmark tournament.
All this meant that Clarke found it very hard to break the news to the Scot.
The trio will join automatic qualifiers Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan, Danny Willett and Chris Wood in the team. I needed to balance the team.
Boasting far more Ryder Cup experience than any of Clarke’s contenders, Westwood’s consistent spell after a runner-up finish at the Masters was enough to secure him a 10th consecutive appearance for Europe. They will offer experienced voices in the team room. “I thought he might have played”, he said.
Knox was nailed on for the third spot – until Pieters went into overdrive.
The U.S-based Knox is a two-time victor on the U.S. PGA Tour this season, including at the Travelers Championship this month, and ranked No. 20 – the sixth highest position for a European.
There is no place in the team for world No 20 Russell Knox, who finished 10th in qualifying, despite the Scot winning last year’s WGC-HSBC Champions and last month’s Travelers Championship.
“The talent they all possess, I have no worries at all about the strength of that team going to America”, Clarke said.
“I lost some sleep over it on Friday and Saturday night, not because I was really nervous, but there was so much going on and everybody is asking about it and I think it just gets to you a little bit”.
“We’ve watched more golf and more stats, and how all the possible contenders were playing, and to see those first nine up there on the board makes me pleased and proud”.
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Westwood added: “As Darren said, he knows what I can do in the Ryder Cup and what I can bring, so it was great to get the call and get a pick”.
