Nothing in golf is as tribal as the Ryder Cup, which forms part of its very appeal. This week has also been a reminder that nothing polarises views within the sport as much as its captain’s picks. Darren Clarke is the latest to discover that you cannot please all of the people all of the time, as the wave of criticism that will surround wildcard choices will attest. In part this is ludicrous; Clarke has a sole objective, to win the Ryder Cup. It is his reputation at stake, far more so than having a desire to play favourites or politics.
In this instance the scenario is not black and white at all. Just as the selection of Thomas Pieters for a European debut at Hazeltine in a month’s time is perfectly valid, Russell Knox is entitled to feel he has suffered serious misfortune by missing out. Even Clarke himself, who clearly didn’t enjoy breaking the bad news to Knox, would admit as much.
Clarke’s faith in Pieters must not be understated. This isn’t a novel position; there has been talk of an emerging, brilliant Belgian in golf circles for years. Pieters was a successful amateur, including in the United States. The trouble was, up until a year ago there looked a real danger of him not fulfilling his promise.
The combination of immense driving distance – perhaps second only to Rory McIlroy in this European side and an average of 20 yards longer than Knox – and a terrific short game should make Pieters a formidable Ryder Cup player. And should is the word, given it is not possible to analyse properly whether or not Clarke has done the right thing by placing his faith in the 24-year-old until after the event has taken place. All we can say for now is that the Northern Irishman is comfortable and confident with Pieters as part of his contingent. Which, presumably, is the most important thing here.
This, however, is neither a slight on Knox nor the scandal some would portray. The omission of the 31-year-old isn’t, for example, comparable to Colin Montgomerie’s refusal to pick Paul Casey in 2010 when the Englishman was both the holder of an excellent match-play record and ranked inside the world’s top 10. But Europe won, therefore Montgomerie was vindicated.
Clarke’s position here was made complicated by the make-up of Europe’s automatic qualifiers. With five rookies in that group, the picking of more than – or even – one more debutant always looked a gamble. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer have done enough this year to justify Hazeltine places but their experience is also necessary, meaning the prospect of Pieters and Knox both being picked – for which there is otherwise a good case – was never a live one.
On Tuesday, Knox’s response to non-selection was typically impressive. For starters, he was happy to field media calls on the topic and, while his disappointment was obvious, there was no sniping or whining about what had taken place. Knox was pragmatic, mature and candid. Not for the first time, his outlook was to be admired.
Yes, he might have played in the Wyndham Championship this month and qualified for the European team but, by the same token, he could have been an automatic entrant anyway but for a memorable catastrophe on the 17th tee at Sawgrass earlier in the year. Knox didn’t seem particularly bothered by ifs and buts and projected himself as a young man content with life. For all that Knox is ranked higher in the world than seven of Europe’s team, that owes plenty to the vagaries of the qualifying process rather than something Clarke can control.
Should Knox’s dejection deepen as the Ryder Cup approaches, he might look back on how his career his blossomed. His route is inspirational to golfers who perhaps think they cannot compete with the world’s best. This is a youngster from the Highlands of Scotland who didn’t make huge amateur inroads and wasn’t a high-ranking college player. Yet he progressed through minor tours and enjoyed a rocket-fuelled run that has taken him to world No20 and within three tournaments of the $10m FedEx Cup bounty. Knox’s late entry into a WGC event last year and subsequent victory there was the stuff of fairytale. At that juncture, the Ryder Cup hadn’t even been on his horizon, meaning it would be a shame if his non-appearance there now causes him any disillusionment.
We may never truly know how much external factors played a part in the Pieters call. There has long been a sense, for example, that full-time European Tour players would be favoured for picks as a means to retain the Tour’s profile. Knox not playing at Wyndham was significant, of that there is no doubt, and Clarke may have been happy for him to secure automatic qualification there had he played. However, perhaps Knox felt he had already stated his case and was concerned by a congested schedule, which is to be respected.
Intriguing, too, was Knox’s selection of a Challenge Tour player and long-time friend, Duncan Stewart, as his partner at golf’s World Cup. This didn’t go down well with, among others, the Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul Lawrie. And yet, it would seem petty if another pick policy was used in direct reply.
One of the most telling comments by Clarke on Tuesday related to the wild card process itself. “In 2008 I did not make the team automatically and I realised, if you do not make the team, you are at the mercy of the captain’s thoughts,” said Clarke. “That’s the way it is. That’s just the hard facts about the whole thing.”
Clarke’s decisions are far less sensational than some perceive. It is also his neck on the line.
