Darren Clarke reflects on tough decision to overlook Russell Knox for Ryder Cup
Tuesday 30 August 2016 14:32, UK
Darren Clarke admitted Russell Knox was very unlucky to miss out on a Ryder Cup place after naming Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters as his three captain's picks.
Knox is ranked 20th in the world, higher than seven members of the European team for next month's contest at Hazeltine National, and the Scot is also seventh in the FedExCup standings with just three Play-Off events remaining.
But despite his excellent form over the qualification period, including a victory at the Travelers Championship in August, Clarke opted to pick Made In Denmark champion Pieters while also adding valuable Ryder Cup experience in Westwood and Kaymer.
"Lee and Martin were two pretty obvious choices but the last one was very difficult. I had a few different people in my mind," Clarke said on Sky Sports News HQ. "It came down to the choice between Russell Knox and Thomas Pieters and it was an incredibly difficult decision, I haven't slept a lot!
"Having to phone Russell yesterday and give him the information was probably one of the toughest phone calls I've ever had to make. Russell has played unbelievably well over the qualification period. Some people would say he deserves a position on the team but I took a look at it and put them side by side.
"I've always been a big Thomas Pieters fan from when I first witnessed how he hits the golf ball," added Clarke, who played with Pieters in Denmark and watched him match the course-record of 62 in the opening round. "To win that tournament by birdying those last three holes in the manner that he did impressed me and I found it impossible to leave him off the team."
Clarke believes his European team face a "monumental task" to win the Ryder Cup for the fourth consecutive time, but he has every confidence in the dozen players heading to Hazeltine.
"The past few days have been some of the toughest of my golfing career but it's been wonderful to see the team take shape," he said. "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.
"And now to finalise the team of 12 guys who are going to Hazeltine to try and bring this beautiful trophy back home with us. It's going to be a monumental task but I've got full confidence in the team we're going to take."
