COLIN Montgomerie yesterday identified Darren Clarke as the European golfer who had the strongest credentials for a Ryder Cup wild card and echoed the swelling sense of bewilderment on both sides of the Atlantic that Nick Faldo made the controversial decision on Sunday to over-look the Ulsterman and choose Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.
The Scot reckoned there were five players in the running for picks – Clarke, Casey, Poulter, Carl Pettersson and himself – but didn't hesitate to mark down his own position at the back of the queue. "Darren was ahead of me on the picks, I think that'
s obvious," he said.
"Having won twice through the year, and in a very pressurised situation in Holland when he needed to win, something that rarely happens, Darren was in pole position. If Nick was going to go the experienced way, or the senior way, then he would have picked myself and Darren.
"He's gone for the confident players, who play most of their golf in the States, where the Ryder Cup is going to be played, so you can understand that, too. As Darren so rightly said on Sunday, he's had a lot worse in his life and so have I. There's a lot more to life than getting selected for the Ryder Cup team."
Montgomerie wasn't the only observer puzzled by the decision to snub Clarke. The consensus in America as well as in Europe was that Faldo had ignored a body of evidence which pointed to the Irishman as a more obvious pick than Poulter.
Ewen Murray, the Sky TV golf commentator who coaches Clarke, said: "Should Ian have been picked? Of course he shouldn't. Not being at Gleneagles beggars belief for so many reasons. Why would you cross the Atlantic when you are already in the team? Please don't expect me to believe that wasn't the case.
"Clarke's win in China was a major breakthrough and after a dreadful July, he played perhaps his finest ever golf in Holland. Right now, his game is arguably better than it's ever been, but more than anything else, he will be missed in the team room."
Sergio Garcia said: "I thought Paul (Casey] was pretty much a lock (for a captain's pick] and because of the way Darren has been playing lately, I thought maybe he would get the other one."
Bernard Gallacher, who led Europe three times against America, said: "There will be a few players thinking, 'Nick, I think you've made a mistake.' I don't think Ian Poulter will let the team down. But he (Poulter] didn't turn up to the last event at Gleneagles and Darren's the form guy. Ian Poulter has missed the last two cuts.
"Darren Clarke has won two tournaments on the European Tour this year, the BMW Asian Open and KLM Open. He won a tournament two weeks ago in a very strong field on a tough course. He's got a great Ryder Cup record and in the past he's played well with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia."
America's captain, Paul Azinger, was also surprised by Faldo's decision as well as envious of the European's choice between youth and experience. "I thought it was between Casey and Poulter, I thought Clarke was a lock," he 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."
Jim Furyk, one of America's best players, added: "I think everyone kind of felt like Darren was going to get the nod. All of his team-mates and actually our guys respect him. He's a good friend of a bunch of guys over here. I know the guys on their team love him. He's great behind the scenes, a good team guy. So I think I'm a little surprised Darren wasn't a pick. On any given day I think Darren is as good as anyone in the world."
Clarke himself said there would be no "sour grapes" but admitted that his omission was a blow. "Obviously I am disappointed, but I have dealt with much worse," said the Ulsterman. "It will make me all the more determined to make the next team.
"You will not hear any sour grapes from me. I couldn't have tried any harder and I devoted myself to the European Tour to give myself the best possible chance, but although I have won twice this year it obviously wasn't enough."
Faldo said he hoped Clarke and Monty would bounce back from the experience of being left out. "For them, I'm sure things like this can be a great inspiration," he said. "For Darren, he's definitely on the road back. I'm sure he'll get some serious inspiration for that.
"You know, Monty is 45 and it's a tougher push now. I'm not saying any more than that. It could inspire those guys to make the team (at Celtic Manor] or they might start thinking of a captain's role."
Although he won't involve anyone else in his backroom team apart from vice-captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Faldo has denied he's a control freak. "You know the famous line about too many cooks spoil the broth.
"What I've learned from experience is I want to gather the information and I will make the decisions."
The full article contains 916 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
