Clarke: So toughtoleave Knoxoutof Ryderteam

European captain Darren Clarke admits that telling Russell Knox he had missed out on a Ryder Cup wild card was one of the toughest moments of his career.

Clarke chose Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters to complete his team to defend the trophyatHazeltinenextmonth, with world No 20 Knox missing out despite being ranked higher than all three.

The 31-year-old Scot, who finished 10th in qualifying and would have made the team automatically if he had been a European Tour member when he won the WGC-HSBC Champions last November, looked to have done enough by winning this month’s Travelers Championship.

But Pieters’ recent form proved irresistible – he was fourth in the Olympics and second in his Czech Masters title defence, before winning in Denmark on Sunday.

The 24-year-old had carded opening rounds of 62 and 71 alongside Clarke.

“Lee and Martin were two pretty obvious choices but the last one was very difficult,” Clarke said.

“Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald, in terms of experience, could have been in the three, but those two haven’t quite been on top of their own games.

“So then it came down to the choice between Russell Knox and Thomas Pieters and it was an incredibly difficult decision; I haven’t slept a lot.

“Having to phone Russell and give him the information was probably one of the toughest phone calls I’ve ever had to make.

“Russell has played unbelievably well over the qualification period.

“Some people would say he deserves a position on the team, but I took a look at it and put them side by side... I’ve always been a big Thomas Pieters fan from when I first witnessed how he hits the golf ball.

“To win that tournament in the manner that he did (with birdies on the last three holes) impressed me and I found it impossible to leave him off the team.

“He didn’t hole anything (for the 62). He made the game look ridiculously easy. He has the talent to go all the way to the top in the world.”