Woosnam backs Donald decision
Former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam reckons Paul McGinley made the right decision in leaving Luke Donald out of his team.
McGinley opted for Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher as his wildcard picks.
Woosnam has his own experience with controversial picks, famously leaving Thomas Bjorn out of the 2006 Ryder Cup, but Europe went on to win that contest convincingly and Woosnam believes a captain must follow his own gut feeling on such matters.
“It is a shame you have to leave out someone like Luke Donald but that is how it goes, I don’t think he’s holed enough putts all year to warrant a pick,” said Woosnam.
“In my time I had three people in my mind: it came down to either Thomas Bjorn, Westwood and Clarke and I’d already picked Clarke.
“It was a hard decision but what persuaded me was I felt Westwood would go better with Clarke, especially in the time of grieving Darren was going through (having lost wife Heather to cancer weeks earlier), and everything worked out.
“Lee partnered Darren in two matches and Darren won all his points that week. You have a gut feeling, you feel who is going to play well under pressure.
“I think with Thomas at the K Club he had a couple of issues with a hole there (the previous year he drove into water at the 17th three times to run up an 11 when leading the European Open) and that sometimes put bad memories in your head.”
Woosnam also gave a frank appraisal of Tiger Woods’ absence from the upcoming contest at Gleneagles, now just over three weeks away.
“How many times has Woods been in a winning team?” Woosnam asked rhetorically.
“I think Europe are fearing more that Woods is not in the team because the USA might be without him.
“The Europeans will be looking at the American team and seeing how they are as unit and how they play together.”
Latest
-
NewsSteve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US OpenGary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.