Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LE GOLF NATIONAL, PARIS SURGE-IO
Garcia likely to be given Ryder Cup wildcard by Bjorn despite having an “abysmal” year
SERGIO GARCIA is set to be named as a Ryder Cup wildcard ahead of Matt Wallace despite the Spaniard struggling for form this summer.
Thomas Bjorn will today choose his four wildcards to take on the USA, with Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson expected to be selected, along with Paul Casey.
Londoner Wallace made a late case to be picked for Paris by winning the final qualifying event at Made in Denmark on Sunday.
But with the Europe team already including five rookies, Bjorn is leaning towards going with the experience of Garcia, who has starred in eight Ryder Cups since 1999 and has the sixth best points percentage – 64 – in Europe history.
He has also beaten US captain Jim Furyk three times in the singles. But last year’s Masters champion has missed the cut in his last five Majors and failed to register a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since March.
His last top-10 in Europe came in July’s French Open at the Le Golf
National – the venue for the clash with the Americans later this month.
By contrast,
Londoner Wallace won the final qualifying event in Denmark with a barrage of late birdies – his third victory of the year and his second via a nerve-shredding play-off.
Bjorn branded Ian Woosnam “barmy” when he overlooked him for a Ryder Cup wildcard in 2006. And this choice of reputation over form will also fuel controversy – especially as Garcia did not play in Denmark last week despite missing out on the Fedex Cup play-offs for the first time. Tony Jacklin, Europe’s most successful ever captain, said: “Matt Wallace deserves to be in above Sergio after winning this week. He’s had an abysmal year by his standards. I saw Sergio saying he would bring something to the teamroom but I don’t think there will be much problem getting motivated in Ryder Cup week. “I wouldn’t pick Sergio against the guys who’ve played their hearts out to be in a position to be there. I’m a great Sergio fan – he’s been one of the best players in the world over the last 20 years – but he just hasn’t been up to his usual form. “I would go with the guys in form.” Europe had six rookies in Hazeltine, where Bjorn was vice-captain, and three failed to scored a point in a 17-11 thrashing.
But debutants Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera-bello – also in the running for wildcards – were Europe’s two best players, while veteran wildcards Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer contributed one point between them.
Poulter (left, top) has rediscovered his old form while Open winner Stenson (left, bottom), who is nursing an elbow injury, has formed a formidable partnership with Justin Rose.
Garcia would be a natural pairing with his fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm.
Casey, who returned to the European Tour to play in the Ryder Cup, said: “It’s not just a case of who’s playing well, it’s a case of looking at pairings and dynamics and energy and all of these things.”
MATT WALLACE PAUL CASEY RAFA CABRERA-BELLO SERGIO GARCIA THOMAS PIETERS