Knox warns against Ryder Cup cronyism
Russell Knox has urged Europe’s Ryder Cup chiefs to think long and hard over calls for captain Padraig Harrington to be given carte blanche to handpick his 12-man team.
With the qualifying process currently in lockdown due to Covid19, some powerful voices have suggested that one possible way round the problem is for Harrington to be allowed a free hand to decide who plays.
But Inverness-born PGA Tour star Knox reckons there’s a real danger that would result in the Irishman being accused of favouritism.
He also believes that if such a system was put in place, it would be grossly unfair on those players who occupied the automatic qualifying spots prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
He is also resigned to missing out on a possible debut at Whistling Straits in September if qualifying is scrapped due to a shortage of ranking events.
Knox said: “Padraig isn’t going to pick any rookies in these circumstances, is he?
“I’m not sure what exactly is going on with the Ryder Cup, with so many rumours about it maybe going ahead
with the captain just picking his 12 favourites. “But, if that turned out to be the case, I know I probably won’t get a pick as it would mean Padraig selecting his friends and also those guys who have done well in the past.
“I don’t believe that’s a fair way of doing things.
“Qualifying for a Ryder Cup is important because it’s an amazing event to be part of, not only
as a player but also as a spectator. While I have yet to experience a Ryder Cup, it’s huge for both tours and if there’s not a ‘legitimate’ qualifying period, how can it really go ahead?
“I’m sure no one would argue over the quality of the 12 guys Padraig chose, as all of them would be excellent players.
“But would all of them have qualified automatically? Probably not.
“And what about rookies having the chance to make
an impression as opposed to selecting older guys with experience?
“Perhaps they could put a ruling in place that he must include at least two rookies.
“But it would still be pretty disappointing for those guys already very high on the points table if they were not given the chance to play.
“That said, it remains my wish that the Ryder Cup goes ahead, even though there are so many unknowns right now.”