But given the Belgian’s stunning recent form, Clarke probably felt he had no choice.
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If that is the case, it is a straight fight between Pieters and Russell Knox, who would have easily made it to the team if his biggest win previous year – at the WGC-HSBC Champions – had come as a European Tour member.
Clarke said he recently set up a WhatsApp group with his vice-captains regarding the captain’s picks.
Belgian Pieters made a late charge into Clarke’s thoughts after winning the Made in Denmark title over the weekend, a performance which included a first round 62.
Pieters’ name will have popped up more than anyone else.
Clarke said: “To get it down to those three has certainly be very hard”.
“But it came to a toss between Russell Knox and Thomas Pieters”. It feels pretty cool to be in the team. Having played with Pieters in the final round at the Made In Denmark, Kaymer praised Pieters’ mental makeup and ability to stay cool under pressure.
“Because all our rookies are playing frequently in America now, it’s not quite what it used to be”, Clarke said.
It will be Westwood’s 10th straight Ryder Cup, while two-time major champion Kaymer made the putt that ensured Europe would retain the cup at Medinah in 2012.
Kaymer, 31, has not lifted a trophy since claiming his second major title at the 2014 US Open, but delivered six top-10 finishes in his last 12 events.
Westwood and Kaymer had always been favourites to be selected and finished 13th and 14th on the world points list respectively, with Westwood securing a 10th consecutive appearance in the event and Kaymer a fourth.
Westwood acknowledged his joy in making the team, but added that as a close friend of Clarke’s he really wanted to work his way into the team automatically rather than rely on a wildcard selection. He’s played well this year, he was runner-up at Augusta and week in, week out he has been very solid. Those three picks today with Lee [Westwood] and Martin [Kaymer] bring that experience, while Thomas Pieters brings a little bit more of that X factor.
With the European team now finalized the countdown is now on until Davis Love’s announcement of his four captain’s picks.
A talismanic figure for Europe, so much so that he was brought in as a vice-captain by Colin Montgomerie in 2010 despite becoming disenchanted with golf and taking a two-month break from playing. After playing with the recent victor of the Travelers Championship in the opening two rounds of last week’s Barclays at Bethpage, Jordan Spieth said it would be “ridiculous” if his companion were to miss out.
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Throw in that the 6ft 5in ace hits the ball further than most of us go on our holidays, and has a terrific short game, and he looks a ready-made Ryder Cup player. “Those guys – the top nine – have earned their place as of right”, he said. It’s about the team room and the dynamics of everything involved. “I’ll be very proud to take them”.
