Lee Westwood delighted to be handed Ryder Cup wildcard by Darren Clarke
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 30/08/16 3:54pm
Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer both admitted they were "relieved" to earn a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup as Thomas Pieters also made the European team.
Westwood will make his 10th consecutive appearance in next month's contest at Hazeltine National, while Pieters brings the number of rookies on Clarke's side to six - the most since Europe regained the trophy at Celtic Manor in 2010.
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Former world No 1 Westwood has posted only two top-10 finishes in a limited schedule this season, but he is confident he can justify Clarke's faith in him as he looks to surpass Sir Nick Faldo as Europe's highest points scorer in the Ryder Cup.
"I'm incredibly proud. When I look back over my career, it's has provided most of the very special moments and something that I love looking back on," said Westwood.
"As Darren said, he knows what I can do in the Ryder Cup and what I can bring, so it was great to get the call and get a pick. I would have liked to have played my way on, but obviously I was very relieved and thrilled at the same time to get the pick.
"It's going to be a very tough task, you can't make any bones about that. The US side is going to be very strong, but I think we're equally as strong. It's a great mix of experience and youth, and the rookies on our team have got experience of playing over in the States.
"Danny Willett is obviously the Masters champion, we've got people who have won the US Amateur and things like that, so I think it's going to be a very close contest. Obviously, the crowd is going to be on their side, but we've come up against this before and I think we're ready to give our all."
Kaymer has never tasted defeat in the Ryder Cup having played in each of the last three contests, memorably holing the crucial six-foot putt that retained the trophy for Europe at the Miracle of Medinah in 2012.
The German said: "I had two goals, making the Olympic Games and making the Ryder Cup team. Fortunately Darren helped me with one, and the other one I did on my own.
"It was a relief, but now the time starts again to prepare, prepare for the biggest event in our sport. I'm really excited, because it gives you a little bit of motivation again, even though it's almost the end of the year, but it's still a massive highlight coming up, especially playing in America.
"I'm really glad for Thomas Pieters as well, I played with him the final round in Denmark last week and I was so impressed with the way he played golf, but also the way he handled the mental side."
Clarke gave Pieters the nod over world No 20 Russell Knox on the back of the Belgian's impressive performance in Denmark, where he opened with a 62 while playing alongside the Ryder Cup skipper and went on to birdie the final three holes on Sunday to snatch a one-shot victory.
Pieters said: "It's been a little bit crazy, especially closing out the tournament like I did on Sunday. I was just really proud of myself and just actually winning another tournament - you try to win tournaments every week and to do it at that point, with a little bit of pressure on me, was very satisfying.
"It's pretty cool, to be honest. It has sunk in and I just can't wait to get on that plane, just be with the team the whole week. I just can't wait to actually tee it up and give it a 110 per cent and earn points for the team."
