Rookies carry Europe’s hopes

Scotland’s Russell Knox sits fourth on the FedEx Cup points list but might need a strong showing at The Barclays, which opens the lucrative PGA Tour playoffs this week, to join the European Ryder Cup team.

Should Knox make it, he would become the sixth Ryder Cup rookie on the squad, tying a record set in 2010 when Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer were among the first-timers.

Knox has won twice this season and had a pair of runner-up finishes but landed outside the group of nine automatic qualifiers because his win at the WGCHSBC Champions in China did not earn him Ryder Cup points as he was not a European Tour member at the time.

On Aug 30, European captain Darren Clarke will announce three picks to complete a team that will go for an unprecedented fourth straight win against the US in the biennial event at Hazeltine in Minnesota, which starts on Sept 30.

“It’s important but it’s not the end of the world. If he chooses not to pick me, I’m not going to sulk in the corner,” Knox said at Bethpage Black on Tuesday.

“He has every right not to pick me. He has every right to pick me.”

Kaymer and fellow Ryder veteran Lee Westwood are rated favorites as wild card selections, with Knox, Shane Lowry and the experienced Luke Donald among the others in the running.

Ryder Cup veteran Henrik Stenson of Sweden said he did not think the high number of rookies would hurt Europe.