This is the 11th time I’ve sat down at one of these wildcard things to hear a European captain explain the reasoning for his choices, and they’ve all been pretty impressive.
Yes, even Mark James and Nick Faldo seemed certain. I guess you don’t get to be captain unless you’re pretty sure of your convictions.
But Darren Clarke yesterday at Wentworth was better than most. He had more confident command of his brief than either Trump or Clinton will have at the first presidential debate on the Monday when we arrive in Minneapolis, I’d imagine.
He hinted quite clearly why he’d gone for Thomas Pieters rather than Russell Knox – a power advantage from the Belgian which will suit Europe better at Hazeltine than the Scot’s steady game.
He said he’d wanted experience, but lack of form made him go back to rookies. He had faith in all six of them to make the difference. He made an equally compelling case for selecting his friend Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.
In doing so, with a look-straight-in-the-eye style, he just about quelling the rumblings from the Scottish journos who’d flown down on the red-eye only to be disappointed when they arrived at Wentworth.
It’s tough on Knox. He’s 20th in the world, and he’s been snubbed for guys who are 41st, 46th and 50th.
He won three weeks ago in an event with a far tougher field than Pieters’ weekend win in Denmark. Westwood and Kaymer haven’t even won main tour events this year. The Scot could barely have done more.
Clarke has made a gut call, and sometimes they turn into a stomach ache for Ryder Cup captains. But it was his decision to make, and Knox allowed it to be a decision he was part of.
As the skipper said, qualify automatically and we don’t have this conversation. A salutary reminder for future Ryder cup points races.
