Rookies Will Shape Clarke Wildcards

Europe’s team to defend the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in September will contain at least five rookies after the nine automatic qualifiers were decided with a week to spare.

Thomas Pieters needed to defend his Czech Masters title and Shane Lowry required a top-four finish in the Wyndham Championship to keep their hopes alive heading into the final qualifying event in Denmark.

However, Pieters lost out by a single shot to the American Paul Peterson on Sunday and Lowry was certain to finish down the field in North Carolina after a closing 67.

And that means Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick are guaranteed to be on the plane to Minnesota in search of an unprecedented fourth successive win in the biennial event.

Willett, Wood, Cabrera-Bello, Sullivan and Fitzpatrick are the rookies, although Willett won the Masters in April and Wood claimed the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.

Europe’s captain, Darren Clarke, will name his three wild cards on 30 August, with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer strong favourites to be selected as Clarke has stressed he would favour experience for a contest on US soil.

Scotland’s Russell Knox and Pieters are understood to be the leading contenders for the final place.

Fitzpatrick has been in the qualifying places ever since winning his maiden European Tour title in the British Masters last October, the 21-year-old then claiming the Nordea Masters in June before a worrying dip in form. “It’s very exciting now,” he said after finishing fifth in Prague. “We can look forward to it and get my game in shape.

“I’ve probably been in the team for the longest period of time. It [the qualifying period] started a few weeks before I won at the British Masters and jumped into the team and I’ve managed to stay there since then. It’s been absolutely phenomenal and I’m just delighted to be in the team. It’s a great opportunity, I’ve got my first one coming up and hopefully I can just keep pushing on my game and getting better.”

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Rory Watched Olympic Golf - Rose

Justin Rose has revealed that golf’s successful return to the Olympics even prompted Rory McIlroy to change his mind and watch the thrilling climax.

McIlroy was one of more than 20 top players to withdraw from the Games, the 27-year-old initially citing concerns over the Zika virus but later admitting that major championships remained the “pinnacle” of the sport and he would only watch “the stuff that matters” in the Olympics.

But after securing golf’s first Olympic gold medal in 112 years by beating the Open champion, Henrik Stenson, in a thrilling duel at the Marapendi reserve, one of the many congratulatory messages Rose received was from his Ryder Cup team-mate McIlroy.

“I did get one from Rory. Absolutely,” Rose said. “He said he was very, very proud and he said he was pulling for me. He said he could see how much it meant to me and congratulated me.

“He was very complimentary and obviously he watched. He made the point that he really wants golf to succeed as an Olympic sport. He has some of his own opinions that are very personal to him and that’s fine, but as a whole he’s very, very much behind golf succeeding in the Olympics.

“All the guys that missed out probably made their decision for good reasons and they probably persuaded themselves it was a good decision, but I think they’re going to have sat back and realised what a successful event this was.

“They’re all great competitors and to be sitting at home watching other guys getting the glory is not going to sit well with them. They want experiences like this and they’re going to have to wait four years. That’s what makes this special. It just doesn’t come around next week and I’ll have another go.

“It’s an opportunity that comes around so rarely and I’m certainly happy it’s fallen on my plate. I certainly targeted it and went after it and therefore feel really proud of it, but it’s an opportunity that hopefully they’re going to take in 2020.”

Rose was close to tears as he described how much his victory meant to his seven-year-old son, Leo, whom he was supposed to take to see Chelsea play West Ham United at Stamford Bridge .

“Obviously I’m going to miss that but I’ll make it up to him,” the 36-year-old added. “He was so excited. I’ve never seen my little boy in tears, and I might start crying myself.

“I’ve never seen it resonate so much with him. He’s just beginning to understand what sport is all about. He went to a little football camp this last week and he got a medal, and he said to me: ‘Right, Dad, I’ve got my medal it’s time for you to get yours.’ He was actually crying when I phoned him and I’ve never seen that in him before, and that was very, very special.”

Rose had fully embraced the Olympic experience by watching numerous other sports and walking in the opening ceremony, after which he shared a bus journey back to the athletes’ village with Andy Murray. Nine days later, both he and the Wimbledon champion were Olympic gold medallists after Murray battled past Juan Martín Del Potro in the men’s tennis final, later on Sunday.

“Nigel Tilley, who is the GB physio, bumped into Andy at the village last night and he said that Andy had watched my last hole before going on to the court, so it was cool that I was able to watch his last two games,” Rose added.

“If you look at Team GB’s tally of medals, it’s amazing for a relatively small country to be doing so well on the medal count. Every time I see a medal go up on my app I feel proud of the wider team and that’s what makes it different and special.”

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McIlroy Unable to Match Walker Pace

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Rory McIlroy lies nine shots off the clubhouse lead after carding a four-over 74 in the first round of the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

The Northern Irishman started the final major of 2016 at the 10th hole and had three bogeys in his opening seven holes and no birdies during his round.

Jimmy Walker set the early pace with a five-under 65, while defending champion Jason Day shot 70.

Masters champion Danny Willett is among the late starters in New Jersey.

The Englishman is playing, in line with PGA tradition, with the two other major winners of this year, American Dustin Johnson, who won the US Open, and Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

McIlroy, the world number four, said before his opening round that the Baltusrol layout gave him a good chance of securing a third US PGA Championship, after winning the title in 2012 and 2014.

Playing alongside Australian Day and American Phil Mickelson, who pushed Stenson close at The Open earlier this month, McIlroy missed two birdie putts in his first two holes.

A duffed chip and miss from six feet led to his first bogey on the 13th and he dropped shots on the 14th and 16th after hitting his ball into greenside bunkers on both holes.

McIlroy missed a five-foot chance for birdie on the par-five 17th and a wild drive on the 18th, the only other par-five hole on the course, led to a par.

Day, who had only one practice round after catching a bug off his son and then spending Tuesday night in hospital after his wife suffered an allergic reaction, had three birdies and a bogey in his two-under round.

Mickelson, who briefly joined McIlroy at four over, battled back to one over with three birdies in five holes.

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Master Willett on Green Soil

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Danny Willett will make his first appearance on European soil in this week’s Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.

Thirty-seven days after his heroics at Augusta National, Willett’s life is only now starting to regain a sense of normality. And whilst the Englishman has undoubtedly enjoyed basking in the limelight, he is equally keen to get back to what he does best: namely winning golf tournaments.

Willett said: “There are a lot of commitments you’ve got to do on and off the golf course. No one really prepares you for that. You can’t quite understand what guys like Rory [McIlroy] and Jordan [Spieth] go through until you experience it yourself. 

“My time management has become more important than ever, and I’m still just getting used to everything. I’m sure that as the weeks go on and other guys win events, it will settle down. 

“But you’ve got to embrace it and enjoy it. It’s been a busy four weeks and I’ve loved every minute of it, but it’s nice to get back to the day job.”

The four weeks Willett took off following his life-changing victory was the longest break he has taken since joining the pro ranks in 2008. 

Understandably, there was a fair degree of rust in the system upon his return to action on the US PGA Tour last week, and a missed cut was not altogether unexpected. 

But after a productive session on the practise range on Monday with his two coaches, Pete Cowen and Mike Walker, Willett feels confident of building on the sizeable lead he has established at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings. 

He said: “The main aim is to try to get things back to the way they were, and just try to enjoy it. It’s great to be back in Europe supporting Rory’s event, and hopefully I can have a good week here. 

“Obviously the crowds are going to be fantastic. I really enjoy the experience of playing in Ireland. Hopefully I’ll be playing with one of the Irish lads and we’ll get some good support out there.” 

The K Club memorably hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, when Darren Clarke inspired Europe to victory, and Willett will gain his first taste of golf’s greatest team event at Hazeltine National in September. 

As part of his meticulous preparations, Captain Clarke invited some potential team members to dinner in Florida last week, and the experience clearly whetted Willett’s appetite.

He said: “It was good to hear Darren speak to the guys and to get in that team environment already. The guys talked about past experiences and talking me through some of the things they think will happen and what you can expect, which was great.

"It was great to hear Rory’s take on things and to spur on all of us rookies. It just gets your juices flowing to hear those things. You hear Clarkey talking about some of his stories, and it makes you want to be a part of it.”

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Poulter Backs Clarke Captaincy

Ian Poulter has backed Darren Clarke to become Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain.

The decision on Paul McGinley’s successor at Hazeltine in 2016 will be made in January and Clarke is among the favourites for the job.

Poulter, who has played in the Ryder Cup five times with his fourth win coming at Gleneagles in September, believes Clarke would be a ‘worthy’ choice.

“There are lots of people that could potentially be the captain. When you look at the next one being in Hazeltine in America, it’s very much looking like Darren Clarke will be running as a strong favourite. He has got a great relationship with the players and he would be a very worthy captain.”

Poulter admits that he would relish the role — but not in the immediate future.

He told BBC Sport: “Hopefully, I’ve got another 10 years in me before I ever get asked. If I was ever asked to be captain then yes, I’d love it.”

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GMAC Plans Better Irish Record

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Graeme McDowell would like to write one of his own come Sunday afternoon at this week’s Irish Open at Fota Island Resort.

The historic event showcases the best of Irish golf, and with Rory McIlroy’s decision to represent Ireland at the next Olympics, along with Royal Portrush’s awarding of The Open Championship, there is a special feeling in the air in County Cork, located at the southern tip of Ireland.

“Yeah, it is really set for a great week,” said McDowell. “Like I say, the course is great. If we can get more of this weather, the fans will come out and enjoy the week, and it will be a really amazing showcase for Irish golf in general. So I’m just really excited about the weekend.”

McDowell has achieved a great deal in his career, however winning his home tournament has thus far alluded the World Number 22.

It is something the 34 year old wants to put right, starting on Thursday, when he takes to the course upon which he made his Irish Open debut.

“Of course I’d love to win an Irish Open”, said the 34 year old. “My record is not really great in this tournament, but I’m certainly here to try and put paid to that this week, and this is the type of golf course that I feel like I can win an Irish Open on.”

While the news that McIlroy has announced his intention to represent Ireland at the Rio Olympics caused much excitement at Fota Island Resort , for McDowell it represents a once in a lifetime chance to compete alongside his good friend on one of world sport’s biggest stages.

“To have Rory McIlroy representing Ireland in the Olympic Games is very special,” He said. “I'm glad that he's committed and I'm hoping to be there alongside him. I've played alongside Rory in Ryder Cups and World Cups and things like that, but I really have no concept of what the Olympic Games is going to be like. It’s the biggest sporting event on the planet.”

McDowell is experienced enough to know that his place in both the Ryder Cup and Olympics teams – two events that clearly mean so much to him – is by no means guaranteed.

However, he will be doing all he can to be selected for those showpiece events, starting on Thursday when he attempts to win his first Irish Open.

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