Captain Clarke’s European Team selection sees six rookies
The waiting is finally over. European Ryder Cup Captain, Darren Clarke has announced his wildcard picks: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters.
The young Belgian Thomas Pieters just keeps on peaking! Fresh from his impressive fourth place in the 2016 Rio Olympics, he then came runner-up in the D+D Czech Masters which he won in 2015, only to then bounce back a week later and snatch the ‘Made in Denmark’ title. The 24-year old from Antwerp is sizzling hot. In the last year, he has won three times on the European Tour. This week he defends his KLM Open title in the Netherlands (8-11 September). No wonder then that European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke had no hesitation in giving him his third wildcard pick for the bi-annual clash against America which takes place at Hazeltine GC later this month.
Clarke saw with his own eyes in Denmark just how on-form the young Belgian is. Commenting on Pieters as one of his captain’s pick, he said: “I’ve always been a fan of his. Last week I played with him. Thomas played one of the most beautiful rounds in 62 shots that I have ever seen”.
The talent of Tiger
Indeed, the compliments keep pouring in about the player from Antwerp. Clarke also commented that he hadn’t seen such a talent since Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Pieters becomes the second Belgian to play in the Ryder Cup. Nicolas Colsaerts also got a wildcard from European Captain José Maria Olazabal at Medinah in 2012.
Hungry young rookies
In total, Clarke’s Ryder Cup team has six rookies. Bursting with enthusiasm and charisma, the first-timers are Masters Champion Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters.
Alongside the rookies, the captain has balanced the team with some experienced Ryder Cup players such as his good friend, Lee Westwood. It will be the forty-three year old’s tenth Ryder Cup appearance and my guess is that Lee will be the bonding factor in the team.
Lee Westwood brings a wealth of Ryder Cup experience to the team.
While the European Team is now complete and ready for action, Team America has only named eight of its players. The speculation is, naturally, great for the build-up of one of the greatest sporting spectacles on the calendar.
The Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota will play host to the 41st edition of the Ryder Cup from Friday, 30th September to Sunday, 2nd October 2016. Don’t miss it!
Wendy Hoad
The Ryder Cup teams: Who’s who
(Players listed in order of qualification)
Team Europe
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
Danny Willett (England)
Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
Chris Wood (England)
Sergio Garcia (Spain)
Justin Rose (England)
Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain)
Andy Sullivan (England)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (England)
Lee Westwood (England) – wildcard
Martin Kaymer (Germany) – wildcard
Thomas Pieters (Belgium) – wildcard
Captain: Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland)
Vice-Captains: Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Ian Poulter (England) and Sam Torrance (Scotland).
Team USA
Here’s how the American team is looking right now, with four wildcard picks to go:
Dustin Johnson
Jordan Spieth
Phil Mickelson
Patrick Reed
Jimmy Walker
Brooks Koepka
Brandt Snedeker
Zach Johnson
WILDCARDS: The American Captain has the luxury of four wildcard picks. Three of these will be announced on 11 September, after the BMW Championship. And just to keep the whole world in suspense, the final wildcard will not be announced until five days before the Ryder Cup starts.
Captain Team USA: Davis Love III
Vice-Captains: Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.
READ MORE of our blogs over the Ryder Cup.
VISIT the official site: www.rydercup.com
PICTURED: Thomas Pieters kissing the KLM Open trophy in 2015 © Golfing Inspirations. Below (l-r): Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Danny Willett.