WILD THINGS!
Willett and Stenson show skipper they are up for a Ryder Cup pick
DANNY WILLETT and Henrik Stenson staked late claims for Ryder Cup wildcards yesterday as Patrick Reed became a big doubt for the USA.
Swede Stenson shares the first-round lead at the D+D REAL Czech Masters in Prague after shooting a five-under 67 playing with captain Padraig Harrington.
And former Masters champ Willett carded a 68 to sit a shot back along with Sam Horsfield – and then revealed the European captain is looking to pick experienced wildcards for Whistling Straits.
The world No.128, who had a nightmare Ryder Cup debut in 2016, said: “It’d be amazing to be on the team. It would probably have to be with a pick this late on.
“This year hasn’t been great. Padraig has been texting, encouraging with the ups and downs with Covid we’ve had. He’d like a couple of guys who have been on the team before to play well this next month and push themselves into his picks.
“We’ll have to see. One round out of many isn’t much to go by, but it’s nice.” Ryder Cup veteran Stenson has tumbled down to world No.181 after missing 11 cuts this year, but he found his old form yesterday.
He hit a 3-wood to three feet for an eagle on No.9 to sit on top of the leaderboard along with Australian Maverick Antcliff. It is the first time he has led after the first round on the European Tour since 2017.
“I’m very happy with the score,” said the 2016 Open winner. “I hit some good shots, particularly those two good ones on nine.
“There were a couple of swings I’m not happy with – I need to work hard.”
Fellow Major winner Reed (left) has pulled out of the Northern Trust in Jersey City with an ankle injury after also withdrawing from last week’s Wyndham Championships.
The self-styled Captain America is currently ninth in the Ryder Cup rankings with only the top six qualifying automatically after the Tour Championships end on September 5.
In the opening round of the first FedEx play-off event, Rory McIlroy opened with a level-par 71 to sit five shots behind clubhouse leader Harold Varner III. Viktor Hovland shot a 68, and Paul Casey and Lee Westwood carded 70s.