Captains back tried and tested
Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson were handed the four wildcard picks to make the European Ryder Cup team on yesterday, as captain Thomas Bjorn put his faith in experience.
All four players have been part of multiple winning sides, although Spaniard Garcia has struggled this year, missing the cut at each of the last five Major tournaments.
England’s Poulter, a talisman for Europe in past Ryder Cups, has returned to form this year after missing the 2016 defeat by the United States at Hazeltine.
“All four bring loads of experience, points and know how to win and lose and they will bring plenty of heart,” said Bjorn.
Bjorn opted for 2017 Masters champion Garcia ahead of Belgian Thomas Pieters, who won four points two years ago as a rookie, Rafa Cabrera Bello and the in-form Matt Wallace, having already seen five rookies make the side.
“The one thing about Sergio is that he’s the heartbeat of the team. It’s like a football team going without their captain, that’s what it’s like for us,” the Dane said.
It will be the 38-year-old Garcia’s ninth Ryder Cup appearance, having been the youngest man to play in the event’s history as a 19-year-old in 1999.
American captain Jim Furyk also called on experience when he added Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to his team on Tuesday, but both have failed to regularly produce their best in Ryder Cups, unlike Garcia and especially Poulter.
The Englishman inspired the greatest comeback in the tournament’s history at Medinah in 2012, when he dragged Europe back to a 10-6 deficit heading into the singles with an astonishing run of birdies playing alongside Rory McIlroy. – AFP