He also finished third in Thailand and second in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
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Thomas has won three tour events in the past year, the latest of those coming at the Made in Denmark tournament over the weekend. The Scot would have been in the side automatically had the points from his WGC-HSBC Champions win in November counted, while Pieters tasted glory in Denmark playing alongside Clarke which followed a runner-up finish at the Czech Masters and fourth at the Olympics.
By accident or design, Pieters was able to play alongside Clarke for the opening two rounds in Denmark.
Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren stood on the 18th tee in a tie for the lead with playing partner Pieters, but lost his ball after a wayward drive and the resulting triple-bogey seven dropped him into fifth place behind David Lipsky and Adrian Otaegui. “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 week’s time when it all starts, I’m sure it’ll be forgotten that I’m not in the team”.
“In Lee Westwood I have one of most experienced Ryder Cuppers of all time – it’s his 10th appearance”. “This will be his 10th appearance”.
“No one will be pulling harder for Team Europe than me and sitting out will give me the drive and motivation I need to play more Ryder Cups”.
“He’s a man I have a huge amount of trust and belief in”.
Belgian Pieters will be making his debut in the biennial competition.
Clarke admitted he lost sleep over the wild-card decisions, calling the phone call he had to make to Knox “probably one of the toughest phone calls I’ve ever had to make”.
Victor of the Made in Denmark tournament on Sunday, he added: “I can’t wait to get on that plane and be with the team”. I had a few different people in my mind. Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell with their experience. I haven’t slept an bad lot thinking about it, and having to phone Russell yesterday to give him the information is probably one of the toughest phone calls I’ve ever had to make because Russell has played unbelievably well over the qualification period, with winning WGC (HSBC Champions) and then doing what he did in Travelers (winner). “He’s played unbelievably well during the qualification period”.
” I know Darren really well”, Love said after his eight automatic qualifiers were confirmed on Sunday as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson.
Westwood, also a former world number one and looked at by many as the dreaded “best player to have not won a major”, is easily the player on this team with the most experience. “I feel like I deserve to be on the team, but it wasn’t my call, obviously”.
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“He just sent me a message before we went on air, saying: ‘Testing, testing, is your phone off?’ That’s why I was laughing”.
