Ryder Cup: Profiles of Darren Clarke's Europe wildcards
By Ben Coley and Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 31/08/16 8:29am
Europe face a monumental task to defend the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, where they will oppose a US team overflowing with talent and a fine blend of youth and experience.
Team captain Darren Clarke was faced with a conundrum for Europe; did he add yet more inexperience to a side which already included five rookies, or rely on those whose past exploits entitled them to be part of the conversation?
Clarke's nine automatic qualifiers were locked in before the Made In Denmark, leaving the Northern Irishman to announce his three captain's picks exactly one month before the tournament gets underway.
Here are the three who Clarke has chosen to complete his line-up...
Martin Kaymer (W4-L3-H3)
Four years on from holing the winning putt at Medinah, Kaymer will be back Stateside for a fourth Ryder Cup appearance.
The 31-year-old came relatively close to qualifying automatically having posted six top-10 finishes during 2016, making the all-rounder by far the most consistent performer of Clarke's wildcard options.
Kaymer is the type of player who could be thrown into any situation and handle it, be that teaming up with a rookie, leading the way in singles or even watching on if asked to sit out matches.
Although the two-time major champion hasn't tasted victory worldwide since a wire-to-wire win at the 2014 US Open, his experience, form and reliability will lead to him having a pivotal role in Europe's tournament defence.
Lee Westwood (W20-L15-H6)
As expected, Westwood's run of form over the spring was enough for him to be selected by long-time friend Clarke.
Boasting far more Ryder Cup experience than any of Clarke's contenders, Westwood's consistent spell after a runner-up finish at the Masters was enough to secure him a 10th consecutive appearance for Europe.
Westwood remains one of the best ball-strikers on the planet when on-song, with his ability to find greens making him typically tough to beat.
The Ryder Cup stalwart may not have been on top form in recent starts at the PGA Championship and the Czech Masters but, if showing signs of his best, will be influential to Europe's young line-up on and off the course.
Thomas Pieters (rookie)
Thomas Pieters found form at exactly the right time to secure a maiden Ryder Cup start and become a sixth rookie in the team.
Pieters followed fourth in Rio with a runner-up finish at the Czech Masters, before winning the Made In Denmark after playing alongside Clarke for the first two rounds.
The big-hitting Belgian may be a relative unknown to the American audience, certainly to the more casual Ryder Cup fan, but his aggressive game could catch anyone by surprise.
It's easy to draw comparisons with compatriot Nicolas Colsaerts, who produced an electric opening performance on his Ryder Cup debut at Medinah in 2012, and Pieters is young enough and fearless enough to do even better.
Missing out…
There is no place in the team for world No 20 Russell Knox, who finished 10th in qualifying, despite the Scot winning last year's WGC-HSBC Champions and last month's Travelers Championship.
Betting was briefly suspended by one bookmaker on the prospect of Luke Donald, but the Travelers Championship runner-up didn't do enough to earn a fifth Ryder Cup appearance.
Former Ryder Cup winners Graeme McDowell and Francesco Molinari saw their hopes ended by missed cuts at The Barclays, while Shane Lowry and Soren Kjeldsen also failed to do enough at the Made In Denmark to convince Clarke.
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