Steve’s wild six
Holder keen to unite Windies’ response
USA captain Steve Stricker will get six wild cards for this year’s Ryder Cup.
The PGA of America are still planning to stage the event at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, starting on September 25.
But with fewer tournaments available to qualify, the Americans have cut the number of automatic places from eight to six.
Stricker said: “With all the various changes to the 2020 schedule, it quickly became apparent that we would need to amend our selection criteria.
“We agreed an increase in the number of captain’s selections from four to six.”
The six wild cards will be announced on September 2 or 3, after the BMW Championship ends on August 30.
The USPGA Tour returns today with the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, after the cancellation of 11 events.
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WEST INDIES skipper Jason Holder says the Black Lives Matter protests could fire up his side against England.
The 28-year-old from Barbados said he will have talks with his team before announcing what, if any, solidarity the players decide to show – be it taking a collective knee or something else.
“West Indians are fuelled and motivated in different ways,” he said.
“In previous series, particularly against England, people have said things prior to the series beginning and that has fuelled a lot of things within us as West Indians.
“Who knows, these protests could be something serious we could build on and we could get some real positive energy through the group.
“I don’t want to speak on behalf of others. Only after we sit down and discuss it and get a common sense of where everybody’s mind is at will we then formulate our plans.
“I just want to make sure whatever we do – if we do anything – that it is done the right way.
“And whatever point – if we do decide to show some sort of solidarity with it – we make sure that everybody same page.
“Regardless of race, your kind, religion, this is a situation for all of us to unite as one.
“What has happened recently has impacted the world and the response has been tremendous.”
When the three-test series gets underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8, Holder and his side will need to get themselves motivated despite the empty stands.
The Barmy Army can even kickstart the opposition at times, as Holder proved when he hit 202 not out at Bridgetown last year. is on the
“No doubt there will be some challenges for a few individuals,” he added. “I know quite a few people play cricket on the back of the support in the stands.
“I myself tend to be pumped up a little more when I see packed stadiums and a relatively decent crowd.
“I enjoy playing in front of the Barmy Army so to not hear them will take some getting used to and that is up to me to cope with.
“In the context it is not going to be possible, so we’ve got to find other ways to get geed up which won’t be a problem, the guys have points to prove.”