Martin Kaymer backs Thomas Pieters for a Ryder Cup place after Denmark win

Thomas Pieters has been backed for a Ryder Cup call-up by wildcard rival Martin Kaymer after the Belgian staged a superb finish to clinch the Made In Denmark title.

Pieters was exemplary down the stretch as he birdied the final three holes to snatch a one-shot victory over long-time leader Bradley Dredge on a final day delayed by over four hours of heavy rain and thunderstorms at the Himmerland Resort.

The 24-year-old almost holed his tee-shot to the par-three 16th, pitched to six inches for a tap-in birdie at 17, and he followed a perfect drive with a delightful approach to five feet at the last which he converted to seal his third European Tour title.

Pieters was fourth at the Olympic Games in Rio earlier this month and finished just a shot behind Paul Peterson in his defence of the Czech Masters title last week, and the young powerhouse insisted he has done everything he could to force himself into the plans of Ryder Cup skipper Darren Clarke for next month's showpiece at Hazeltine National.

But he is relaxed about his chances of being one of the three captain's picks when Clarke finalises his line-up at a press conference on Tuesday at Wentworth, live on Sky Sports News HQ from 12:30pm.

He said: "Darren Clarke has got plenty of good players to pick from, so if he doesn't pick me, then so be it, and I'll work my butt off to get there in the next one. But I've done all I can now and I'm just really pleased with this win to be honest.

"I really needed a good finish. I saw I was one back walking to the green on 16, and I hit a great shot there but I knew I needed to make at least one more, and to finish with two more birdies was pretty cool.

"Obviously I'm really happy with this win and just the way I won it. I haven't had the chance to have that one-shot lead, because last year I had a two-shot lead and I kind of closed it out before I got to 18.

"I had the pressure of needing to make a birdie, and it's wonderful to be in that position because then you'll find out if all the practice pays off, and it did."

Kaymer played alongside the Belgian in the final round and was impressed with what he saw as both remained firmly in contention for a Ryder Cup wildcard.

"If I would be the captain he would be my pick for sure because he brings something special to the team," said Kaymer, who closed with a 68 to finish six shots adrift and earn a sixth top-10 in his last 10 starts.

"Thomas hits the ball very far, is very good in the short game and obviously proved he can play under pressure very well."

And when asked about his own chances of making the team, Kaymer added: "I think I've done as much as I can, but it would be another great experience of a golfing career to play four Ryder Cups in a row... it would be amazing."