Garcia, Poulter handed wildcards

London, Sept. 5: Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia were handed the four wildcard picks to make the European Ryder Cup team on Wednesday, as captain Thomas Bjorn put his faith in experience.

England’s Poulter, a talisman for Europe in past Ryder Cups, has returned to form this year after missing the 2016 defeat by the United States at Hazeltine.

All four picks have been part of multiple winning sides, although Spaniard Garcia has struggled this year, missing the cut at each of the last five major tournaments.

British Open champion Francesco Molinari, fourtime major winner Rory McIlroy, English trio Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren and Thorbjorn Olesen had already qualified automatically for the 28- 30 September event to be held just outside Paris.

Bjorn opted for 2017 Masters champion Garcia ahead of Belgian Thomas Pieters, who won four points two years ago as a rookie, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Matt Wallace.

“The one thing about Sergio is that he’s the heartbeat of the team. It’s like a football team going without their captain, that’s what it’s like for us,” said the Dane.

It will be the 38- year- old Garcia’s ninth Ryder Cup appearance, having been the youngest man to play in the event’s history as a 19- year- old in 1999.

GARCIA READY TO ‘ GIVE EVERYTHING’ Garcia promised to “give everything” to help

Europe win back the Ryder Cup, after being given a wildcard.

The 38- year- old Spaniard has missed the cut at the last five major championships, and has managed only one top- 10 finish since April.

“It is very exciting for me to be part of another Ryder Cup team, and I’m going to give everything I have,” said Garcia, who has been part of five Ryder Cup- winning teams.

“( I’m) very thankful to Thomas for believing in me and, you know, I know that it probably wasn’t an easy decision.”