KNOX HEARS THE CALL OF THE WILD

THE race is on to be named European wild cards for next month’s Ryder Cup.

Captain Darren Clarke has three picks, with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer almost certain to be two of them. He will name the other one next week.

Wild card is probably the wrong phrase where golf is concerned. There is little wild in golf, except when you pick up someone else’s ball.

Yes, John Daly (above) was nicknamed ‘Wild Thing’ but only because he refused to tidy his hotel room after a two-night stay (Thursday and Friday).

In golf you’re considered wild if you putt without a glove, if you can imagine such a thing.

Russell Knox is 4-6 to be named third pick and become the first European Ryder Cup player no European punter has ever heard of. Knox was born in Inverness to an American father but has lived most of his life in the States after graduating from the school of hard Knox.

He probably feels more of an American than a European, but the American said she didn’t mind.

The 31-year-old has won two events on the US Tour this year and lies 10th in the Ryder Cup points table, one place off automatic qualification.

But he’s not taking part in this week’s Made In Denmark, a cheese-eating tournament, and there are doubts about adding another Ryder Cup rookie to the five who have already qualified.

Knox, only the fourth Scot to make the world’s top 20 after Colin Montgomerie and The Proclaimers, has obvious claims but my money’s on the doughty Graeme McDowell at 2-1.