Bjorn opts for experience in wildcard pick for match vs US

LONDON: Europe Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn loaded his team with experience when he named Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson as his four wildcard picks for this month’s match against the United States in Paris.

With five rookies having already booked their places automatically through the European and World Points standings, Denmark’s Bjorn opted to beef up his team with four players who boast 20 previous Ryder Cup appearances between them.

Spain’s Garcia, veteran of eight previous Ryder Cups and winner of 22.5 points, got the nod despite a dismal season in which he missed the cut in all four majors.

England’s Poulter (42) is known as ‘‘Mr Ryder Cup’’ after his heroics in Medinah in 2012 and boasts an incredible record, having lost just four of his 18 matches in his five previous appearances in the biennial event.

He sat out the 1711 defeat in Hazeltine two years ago because of a foot injury, resulting in his ranking plummeting, and said he was already ‘‘getting goosebumps’’ at the thought of competing in the event.

World No 16 Casey returns after a 10year absence, while former Open champion Stenson has recovered from an elbow injury that nagged his midseason and is another player skipper Bjorn will be able to depend on in the heat of battle.

There was disappointment for England’s Matt Wallace, who pushed himself into contention with victory in last week’s Made in Denmark tournament in which he beat Ryder Cup vicecaptain Lee Westwood in a playoff to claim his third title of the year.

Bjorn explained his decision to opt for experience. ‘‘We’ve got five great rookies, but you need people who have been through it and done it all, positively and negatively.’’

Garcia will became the first man to play in the Ryder Cup after missing the cut in all four majors in the same year.

American skipper Jim Furyk already has 11 of his 12 players, with experienced duo Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson added to his lineup when he announced his wildcards on Tuesday.

Furyk has a formidable array of talent at his disposal with only two of his players not having a major to their name.

He will announce his last wildcard on Monday.

The 42nd Ryder Cup takes place at Le Golf National in Paris from September 2830. — Reuters