STRICKER ‘LOST SLEEP’ OVER DECISION TO LEAVE OUT REED

US RYDER Cup captain Steve Stricker admitted he ‘lost sleep’ over his decision not to give Patrick Reed a wild card for the contest.

Reed has become known as ‘Captain America’ due to his stirring performances at the event since his debut at Gleneagles in 2014.

But his recent health scare – Reed revealed last week he had been ‘battling for my life’ after being diagnosed with double pneumonia – counted against him.

Stricker opted for Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Tony Finau, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. ‘We were looking

AMERICAN TEAM

Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay

Wild cards: Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Tony Finau, Daniel Berger, Scottie Scheffler

at the six players to perform here at Whistling Straits and we feel these six fit Whistling Straits to a tee,’ Stricker said yesterday.

On the omission of Reed, Stricker (above) said: ‘That was a very, very difficult call. Kinda lost sleep over that one. He is a tremendous competitor, his record at the Ryder Cup is pretty darn good. But I think it was just the uncertainty of his health and really the lack of play that led to our decision down the stretch.

‘It was a very hard conversation. He was my first call. I knew it was going to be hard but he took it like a true champion. I apologised to him many times and just wanted to make sure he knew it was a very difficult decision.’

On whether Brooks Koepka might have to be replaced for the event after withdrawing from the Tour Championship with a wrist injury, Stricker added: ‘We’re not there yet. We’ll deal with that if it were to happen.’