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European Ryder Cup Team Announced

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getofmeland

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2008 European Ryder Cup team

Padraig Harrington (Ire)
Lee Westwood (Eng)
Sergio Garcia (Spa)
Henrik Stenson (Swe)
Robert Karlsson (Swe)
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa)
Graeme McDowell (NIre)
Justin Rose (Eng)
Soren Hansen (Den)
Oliver Wilson (Eng)
Ian Poulter (Eng)
Paul Casey (Eng)
Captain: Nick Faldo (Eng)

European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo handed his two wildcards to England's Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.

The pair complete the 12-strong team after Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson sealed the last three automatic spots at Gleneagles.

The decision means Colin Montgomerie misses out on making a ninth Ryder Cup team, while five-time Cup veteran Darren Clarke was also left out.

"I feel very good about those two picks," said Faldo.

"It's been on my mind a long time and these last couple of weeks, and this has been the big day, the day you want to get over.

"I know how to talk to golfers, and as a golfer I've been there, done that, but to have to make a decision that obviously guys will be emotional about either way is tough.

"I am now very excited, I have got a team and I can now talk to my team. I will start giving them a few thoughts and ask them a few questions on what they want to do and start getting some communciation lines open."

Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell have already made the team.

Casey, 31, has played in the last two Ryder Cups, while Poulter, 32, who last competed in the 2004 match at Oakland Hills, caught Faldo's eye with a runner-up place at the Open at Royal Birkdale.

"I've been watching these guys through the summer," said Faldo.

"Ian is a very determined guy, I love his attitude and what he did at the Open - that back nine he played with the intention to win and had that emotional feeling."

On Casey, Faldo said: "I was waiting for the putting to turn around. That has been very important.

"He has an extremely good record in the Ryder Cup and, going back, the Walker Cup."

Poulter chose not to fly back from America for the last qualifying event, this weekend's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

He could have qualified for the team by right with a third-place finish, and his decision not to attend drew widespread criticism.

"It was such a tough decision to make and it might have been the wrong decision looking back. Maybe I should have gone to play Gleneagles," said Poulter.

"I'm absolutely overwhelmed. It's awesome. I'll bring excitement, I'll bring flair and I'll bring the passion I always play golf with and I think that will be an asset to the team."

Clarke, who played heroically as a wildcard at the K Club two years ago shortly after the death of his wife Heather, was favourite for a pick after winning in Holland last week.

"Nick rang me after my last round at Gleneagles to say that I wasn't going to be one of his picks and I simply wished him all the best," Clarke said.

"Obviously I am disappointed that I wasn't selected but I have dealt with much worse and it will make me all the more determined to make the team that will play in Wales next time (2010).

"I would like to wish him and his team all the very best for Valhalla. I will be supporting them from wherever I am."

Montgomerie, who is expected to captain the European team at Gleneagles in 2014, has been a talisman of the side for a decade and has never lost a singles match.

His omission means there are no Scots in the team for the first time since 1937. If Montgomerie has played in his last Ryder Cup, he will end up two points short of Faldo's record total of 25.

"Monty's summer wasn't great and when I am looking at 10 guys (automatic qualifiers) I'm looking to what to add to the team," said Faldo.

Montgomerie added: "Although I am, of course, very disappointed not to have played my way into the team or into contention for a pick, I am delighted at the obvious strength and depth of the European team," he said.

"I wish Nick and the team the very best of luck and while I shall certainly feel sad not to be playing a part, as I sit glued to the TV I know the overwhelming emotion I will be feeling is pride."

United States captain Paul Azinger said he was surprised by Faldo's picks.

"I thought it was between Casey and Poulter. I thought Clarke was a lock," Azinger said. "But the guys he picked are really good. His dilemma is a nice one to have.

"You look at all the guys he had to choose ... I don't have that. It's not like I have a bunch of veterans with monster records at the Ryder Cup."

Azinger will name four wildcards on Tuesday, but unlike the last five US skippers he will be without the injured world number one Tiger Woods.

Faldo also chose not to appoint a second vice-captain alongside Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.

He had given the job to Paul McGinley, but the Irishman decided to relinquish the role in order to try - in vain - to qualify for the team.

Europe have won the last three matches and five of the last six in the biennial event with the US.

The 37th Ryder Cup takes place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from 19-21 September.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7590864.stm

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A very strong team to face the Americans, I would of potentially brought Montgomerie in as a wildcard but he hasn't had a good couple of seasons, so I can see obviously why he has been left out... It will be interesting to see how the Americans match it as well...
 
I thought Clarke was a lock, he has won twice this season, surely that has to count for something, obviously not as Kaymer will attest to. It's not surprising though the 2 picks, Faldo has one of the biggest egos of any golfer and will certainly be relishing the hero worship he'll receive at Valhalla. My question is though why pick 2 wildcards who are unlikely to play a major part in the team. The loss of Donald is looking an even bigger one now given the picks.

Poulter's Ryder Cup record is hardly anything to write home about, 1 loss when it counted and a win in a dead rubber, added to that no win this season and it does look puzzling, moreso given his recent form.

Here's hoping Faldo doesn't take a leaf out of Hal Sutton's book and pair Harrington and Garcia together.
 
Faldo has always been an idiot, a dam good one but remember he and Monty never got on, plus CM would have broken his points record and he maybe just wanted a couple more Englishmen in the side. There is no other reason why you would pick Poulter over the greatest ryder cup player in decades and the in form Clarke other than pure patriotism. I hope Europe lose but i dont think they will.
 
Faldo is an absolute nob Montie and Clarke were certainties in my mind.

Selecting Ian Poulter is just laughable.
 
Monty did nothing all year to get a pick bar finishing runner-up in the French Open which got him most of his points, in fairness Poulter did nothing to deserve a pick either, but then Faldo does need the ego masaging from the young English players which he wouldn't have got with Clarke or Monty. Monty can have no complaints, Clarke certainly can with 2 wins and multiple top 10s as opposed to one runner up finish for Poulter at the Open, where he choked when truly in contention with those missed birdie opportunities on 15, 17 and only making that putt on the last to save par, yep that's the kind of performance we want to see coming down the stretch at the Ryder Cup, well done Captain Faldo.

Other players I feel sorry for for missing out are Kaymer and Dougherty, who both lost their mothers when in excellent form and missed big points on offer in the Summer tournaments.
 

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