Ryder Cup: Gallacher, Poulter & Westwood get wildcard picks
Last updated on .From the section Golf
Debutant Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are the three wildcard selections for Paul McGinley's European Ryder Cup team to face the USA.
England's former world number one Luke Donald, who has played in four of the last five Ryder Cup tournaments, misses out with Italy's Francesco Molinari.
Scot Gallacher came within one place of securing an automatic Ryder Cup berth at the Italian Open on Sunday.
The Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles in Scotland from 26-28 September.
| Europe's Ryder Cup team |
|---|
| Qualified automatically via European points list: Rory McIlroy (NI), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Victor Dubuisson (Fra), Jamie Donaldson (Wal) |
| Qualified automatically via World points list: Sergio Garcia (Spa), Justin Rose (Eng), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Graeme McDowell (NI) |
| Wildcard picks: Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Ian Poulter (Eng), Lee Westwood (Eng) |
Donald was part of the Europe team that recorded a 14.5-13.5 victory over the United States at the last Ryder Cup in Medinah in 2012, and has taken 10.5 points from a possible 15 since his 2004 debut in the competition.
The 36-year-old has struggled for form recently, finishing in in the top 35 only once in his past nine tournaments.
"It was a very difficult conversation with him for a number of reasons," McGinley said of his decision to overlook Donald.
"My relationship with Luke is very close. He has played in every Ryder Cup I've been involved in apart from 2008, which we both missed.
"I've partnered Luke twice, in 2004 and 2006, and vice-captained him in 2010 and 2012. I forged a very strong relationship with him.
"His Ryder Cup record is outstanding and he will no doubt go on to make many more appearances in the Ryder Cup. It was a difficult call but one I had to do in the interests of the European team."
Donald later posted on Twitter: "Thanks for all the lovely messages, obviously gutted to not have made the team, but wish all the lads the very best #GoEurope."
McGinley said Gallacher's third place at the Italian Open was a crucial factor in his decision to hand the 39-year-old a Ryder Cup debut.
Gallacher would have taken Graeme McDowell's position as the final automatic qualifier had he finished in the top two in Turin.
"As a rookie you have to earn a little bit more to earn a pick, and I think Stevie did more than a little bit more," he said.
"His performance last week had a huge effect on me. He really had to go some and he did."
| Ryder Cup: Europe's wildcards | |
|---|---|
| Stephen Gallacher (Scotland, age 39) | Nephew of former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher has recorded seven top-10 finishes in his last 12 appearances at Gleneagles |
| Ian Poulter (England, age 38) | Has won 12 of his 15 Ryder Cup matches, hitting birdies on each of the last five holes in his Saturday fourballs with Rory McIlroy against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson at Medinah in 2012 |
| Lee Westwood (England, age 41) | Made his Ryder Cup debut in 1997 and has 21 points from 37 matches. Gleneagles will be his ninth successive Ryder Cup |
Gallacher was unsure whether he done enough to warrant a wildcard pick when he failed to secure a top-two finish at the Golf Club Torino.
"My emotions were a bit mixed. I was delighted with the way I played but I was disappointed that I did not qualify automatically," he said.
"I still had it in my head that I was up against a lot of really good players for the picks as well."
Westwood lies outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup rankings, but the eight-time Ryder Cup participant has upped his game in recent weeks, carding a final-round 63 at the Bridgestone Invitational last month before finishing tied for 15th at the PGA Championship the following week.
"When Paul rang with good news, I breathed a sigh of relief," he said.
"I have played a lot better in the last month and a half. Paul asked us to show some form, and I think I did that in the final round of the Bridgestone and by leading the PGA Championship the following week."
Poulter has not had a top-10 finish since June, when he finished sixth at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, but the star of the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah is hopeful that he will recover his best form in time for Gleneagles.
"I'm very proud to be a pick and I just can't wait to get there. The Ryder Cup means a lot to me and I guarantee I'll be ready to perform to my best," he said.
United States captain Tom Watson will make his three wildcard selections later on Tuesday.
Former world number one Tiger Woods has ruled himself out of contention through injury. The 38-year-old, who failed to qualify automatically for the Gleneagles event, has been suffering from a persistent back problem.
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Europe has a strong team, they should start favourites at Gleneagles.
That is possibly the biggest load of tripe I have seen on the BBC boards, congratulations.
You clearly didn't watch the 'Miracle at Medinah if you are casting aspersions of cowardice upon Luke Donald.
Warriors don't necessarily have to exhibit pop-out googly eyes and rippling biceps. They can be silent assassins and deadly hunters too.
Luke Donald will return.
The European team are in pretty good shape going into this, and I fancy their chances, but it's going to be tough.
92. McG would have to go some to be worse than Faldo. Any basis for your miserable assertion?
89. 3-0 to US on Sunday? Are you familiar with the scoring system? How the hell could the score on Sunday be 3-0?
The aim is to pick the strongest possible team.
Delighted Gallagher got a pick
If Poulter had only one arm and one leg I would pick him he brings loads to the team and locker-room
For me that left it a straight choice between Donald and Westwood and Westwood is looking like he might be coming good whereas Donald just is not playing well.
Good picks, good team, good chance of winning
Last time I Checked we've won 6 out of the last 7 RCs.. or is it the normal write off our own chances due to fear of dissapointment.
Hers a fresh change. How about we get behind a team we support instead of constant criticism!
Europe look very strong indeed now. It will be very tight though and it's almost at the point that the US has fallen so far after Medinah that they can come to Gleneagles with less much pressure of expectation. Uncle Tom can certainly use that to positive effect.
210 and others..I think Monty is a bridge too far in terms of selection. Surely??? Or am I missing the point?
What a wonderful year of Sport for Scotland, rounded off nicely with the prestigious honour of holding the Ryder Cup.
Come on Europe in Scotland!
C McK
Matchplay, and particularly the Ryder cup, is about the mental side as much as physical. It would have been crazy to not pick Poulter.
A club Captain that can't even spell the word Captain correctly ?LOL
Can get away with this being one quarter Irish;
Classic Irish thinking from McGinley;
"He has played in every Ryder Cup I've been involved in apart from 2008, which we both missed"
That tickled me........
You post about his recent form being better than the rest of the team, was, and still is, rubbish.