Ryder Cup 2016: Darren Clarke has to name his three wildcards on Tuesday which is likely going to be a very tough decision
Darren Clarke has to name his three wildcards on Tuesday for the Ryder Cup in what is set to be a difficult choice
DARREN CLARKE will complete his Ryder Cup team by naming his three wildcards on Tuesday.
The Northern Irishman admits there will be a lot of soul-searching before he makes that announcement.
SunSport asked six men, who know exactly what the chosen few must bring to the team, for their opinions on who Clarke should select for the showdown at Hazeltine, Minnesota starting September 30.
Here are their views . . .
NICOLAS COLSAERTS
(Wildcard 2012)
Picks: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Russell Knox.
I believe Westwood and Kaymer are certain to be picked but the third wildcard is a real head-scratcher for Darren.
My heart says Thomas Pieters and my fellow Belgian is in great form: Fourth in the Olympics, beaten only by a shot in the Czech Masters and then that brilliant 62 in Denmark.
But there are possibly one or two with stronger claims. Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari deserve a mention but for me the obvious third pick is Knox.
He has won two big events in the last year. He knows what it is like to play in America as a PGA Tour member . . . and how to beat the Americans!
EDOARDO MOLINARI
(Wildcard, 2010)
Picks: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Pieters
Westwood has a lot of Ryder Cup experience and I recall him equalling Arnold Palmer’s record of ten straight matches without defeat. That was some achievement.
His confidence has been good since being Masters runner-up, so he would bring a lot to the team. Kaymer is another who has shown he is great under pressure, like when he holed the winning putt at Medinah.
And Pieters gets my vote. He hits it miles, putts well and has been playing the best golf of anyone in the last two months.
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ANDREW COLTART
(Wildcard 1999)
Picks: Russell Knox, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer
No one deserves a wildcard more than Knox.
I was a rookie in 1999, but it hardly seems appropriate to call Knox one — top 20 in the world, a World Golf Championship winner and a PGA Tour title at the Travelers.
Oh yes, and going into the FedEx Cup play-offs there was only one man eligible for the Ryder Cup ahead of him in the standings and that was Dustin Johnson. So you could say he has an almost irresistible case for a wild card.
Westwood is the most experienced Ryder Cup player around and has been a shoo-in since he was the Masters runner-up.
Darren probably told Kaymer he needed some form and he has responded with five top-sevens in the last nine. That’s form.
HOWARD CLARK
(Wildcard 1989)
Picks: Soren Kjeldsen, Russell Knox, Westwood/Kaymer
Kjeldsen seems to have been overlooked, which I don’t get. Russell is a model pro and such a cool customer.
He also happens to be the man in tenth place, so I think it’s hard to leave him out. I’d also pick Knox. Had he been a European Tour member when qualifying began he’d have made the team ahead of Justin Rose, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick. That says it all.
You also want experience and either one of Westwood or Kaymer would do a great job.
BERNARD GALLACHER
(Captain 1991, 93, 95)
Picks: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Russell Knox.
Had Luke Donald won the Wyndham Championship last week I might have found a spot for him. But he came up just short and that has been a recurring story.
With five rookies already in the team I have reservations about picking Knox. Yes he’s won big events, but the Ryder Cup is totally different.
Give me players who have shown they can handle the heat of battle — no one fits the bill better than Westwood.
Kaymer hasn’t played his best this year, but he did look like he was running into form at the USPGA. He also holed the winning putt at Medinah and hammered Bubba Watson at Gleneagles. So that clinches it.
TONY JACKLIN
(Captain 1983, 85, 87, 89)
Picks: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald
The third wildcard always gave me sleepless nights. I think it is the same for Darren, with Westwood and Kaymer both obvious picks.
Russell Knox is favourite to get the third wildcard. But for a Ryder Cup, especially on foreign soil, I would lean towards experience. Donald hasn’t always been convincing but he has been runner-up in two PGA Tour events. And he has such a great short game that I’d forgive his inconsistency.