Stenson will get the nod despite putting horrors

HENRIK STENSON is set to be named by Thomas Bjorn as one of his Ryder Cup wild cards today – despite putting problems that his own coach brands as “horrendous”.

The 2016 Open champion has shaken off an elbow injury and declared himself fit for Paris at the end of the month.

But ahead of what often turns out to be a transatlantic putting contest, Stenson, below, will be spending the intervening period brushing up on his work on the greens.

It comes after a horror show at the Dell Technologies Championship won in Boston by the in-form Bryson DeChambeau on Monday.

“Henrik has putted so poorly recently,” said his coach Pete Cowen.

“In Boston 76 people made the cut and Henrik was one of them but he ended up finishing 81st in the putting stats.

“He’d obviously got worse than the people who missed the cut. He needs to get his putting boots on.

“He’s No1 in America in driving accuracy and greens in regulation tee to green, which is really the stat we need in Paris. He just needs to find a putting stroke.”

Cowen feels Stenson’s experience – and that of Ian Poulter who is also set for a call-up today – will prove invaluable for the Ryder Cup, with Matt Wallace missing out despite three wins on the European Tour this season.

“I don’t think they want any more rookies in the team with five in. They had five last time at Hazeltine which proved a little bit beyond everybody,” he said.

“People say Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm aren’t really rookies but they are, unfortunately. From all the experience I’ve had – and this is the 11th one I’ve been involved in – when you’re representing your continent for the first time you’re fairly nervous.

“It’s the only time I’ve ever heard a top player say that he thought he was going to miss his ball on the first tee.” ●WATCH this week’s BMW Championship exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf and follow all the action from the FedEx Cup play-offs, PGA Tour and BMW Champs.