IT DRIVES ME WILD

Scot Knox calls for a Ryder revamp after latest European snub

IN-FORM Russell Knox has called for changes to the European Ryder Cup team selection process after being overlooked for past experience.

For a second Ryder Cup in succession the Scot has fallen just short of qualifying for the first time and after also having won a tournament, or two events in the case of the 2016 selection process, and not been afforded a wild-card pick.

European captain Thomas Bjorn overlooked in-form players Rafael CabreraBello, triple Tour winner Matt Wallace and also Knox for the experience of Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and a very out-of-form Sergio Garcia.

Cabrera-Bello, who went close to victory in Boston and was undefeated at Hazeltine, was clearly bitterly disappointed while Wallace could feel the same.

With Bjorn at the helm the selection process was again changed so he had four wild cards. And Knox says this needs to change ahead of the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

He said: “I’ve said all along four picks is far too many for both teams. There should be one or two picks maximum.

“It’s meant to be the 12 best European golfers versus the 12 best American golfers and when there’s four picks it doesn’t quite become that. It becomes the 12 most experienced BY BERNIE McGUIRE players. But saying that I had every chance to play my way into the team and I didn’t get it done so I can’t really argue.”

Knox’s form slumped when he returned to the US after his victory at the Irish Open and having finished runner-up a week earlier at the French Open. Knox is determined to qualify automatically for 2020 and added: “In two years I’m going to be on that team. I’ve made my mind up. I’ve got close the last two and it sucks to get the call saying you’re not picked.” Meanwhile, there was no play at the BMW Championship yesterday due to bad weather.