Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters added to Ryder Cup team
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 30/08/16 7:11pm
Darren Clarke has named Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters as his captain's picks for the European Ryder Cup team.
Westwood will make his 10th consecutive appearance in next month's contest at Hazeltine, while Kaymer earns his fourth straight cap as Clarke opted to add much-needed experience to his line-up.
Pieters becomes the sixth rookie in the European team after a sparkling run of form in recent weeks, finishing fourth at the Olympic Games before just missing out on successfully defending his Czech Masters title.
The big-hitting Belgian atoned with an impressive win in last week's Made In Denmark, where he shot 62 playing alongside Clarke in the opening round and birdied the final three holes on Sunday to pip Bradley Dredge by a stroke.
Russell Knox misses out despite being the highest-ranked European of the non-qualifiers, rising to world No 20 following his win at the Travelers Championship earlier this month, while Luke Donald's bid for a first appearance since 2012 came up short.
Clarke confirmed his team during a press conference at the European Tour's Wentworth headquarters, and he declared himself "proud" of the 12 that will bid to win the Ryder Cup for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.
But he admitted he had endured sleepless nights in deciding between Knox and Pieters having locked in Westwood and Kaymer as his first two selections.
The phone call to Russell was one of the hardest I have ever had to make. But, given his form, I found it impossible to leave Thomas out
Darren Clarke
"These past few days have been some of the toughest of my golfing career, but I'm going to have full confidence I have in the team with us," Clarke said. "They've embraced the challenge, they're world class players in their own right and with the talent they possess I have no worries at all about the strength of that team. I'm proud of that team.
"It came down to Thomas Pieters and Russell Knox, and the phone call to Russell was one of the hardest I have ever had to make. But, given his form, I found it impossible to leave Thomas out.
"Last week I played with him, as I've done many times over the qualification period. When he teed off on Thursday morning he knew exactly why I was playing with him.
"Prior to that there was a few other contenders I was thinking about as well, but he went out and played unbelievably and shot 62 - one of the finest 62s I've ever witnessed - and he made it look easy. And then on top of that he finished in the manner he started in to win the tournament.
"I'm very pleased and proud to have someone of Thomas Pieters' undoubted talent as part of that team. He has the talent to go all the way to the top of the world.
"Narrowing it down to those three wildcards has been a very difficult process, but I said that I was going to look to experience and with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer I had two former world No 1s and guys who bring a wealth of experience to the team.
"Lee and Martin were two pretty obvious choices but the last one was very difficult. I had a few different people in my mind. Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald had an argument with their experience to join that, but they would admit that they have not been on top of their game.
"In Lee Westwood, I've got one of the most experienced Ryder Cuppers of all-time. He has played well this year and week in, week out has been very, very solid.
"Martin Kaymer has had six top-10s in his recent events and is somewhat of a Ryder Cup stalwart. None of us can forget the putt he holed at Medinah a few years ago and is another man I have a massive amount of trust and belief in."
