The European Team for Ryder Cup 2008 is:
*Padraig Harrington (Ire)
*Sergio Garcia (Spn)
*Lee Westwood (Eng)
*Henrik Stenson (Swe)
*Robert Karlsson (Swe)
*Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spn)
*Graeme McDowell (NI)
*Justin Rose (Eng)
*Soren Hansen (Den)
*Oliver Wilson (Eng)
*Paul Casey (Eng)
*Ian Poulter (Eng)
Nick Faldo has announced his wild card picks to complete his team for next months Ryder Cup Matches at Valhalla. Ian Poulter and Paul Casey complete the European Lineup.
The final automatic slots on the European team have been filled today with Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson qualifying as players 8, 9 and 10 respectively at Gleneagles today. Wilson beat Nick Dougherty to the final place and becomes the first European to play on a Ryder Cup team without winning on his home tour. The 27 year old admitted that he would have been uncomfortable to have been chosen as a wild card without a win under his belt but reasoned that qualifying for an automatic place means that he’s been playing consistent golf.
All eyes will now be on Nick Faldo who will be choosing his wild card picks to compliment the 10 players who have qualified. The team so far is Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson
By the end of today, the speculation surrounding Nick Faldo’s wild card picks will be over. But I fear that the debate will rage all the way up to the matches in Kentucky.
Why?
Because Nick Faldo likes to see the world differently to everyone else.
There appears to be a consensus amongst golfing people in Europe that Paul Casey and Darren Clarke would be the most sensible selections for the 11th and 12th places on the team. Both have experience of Ryder Cup success, both have proven themselves in hostile competitive environments and most encouragingly, both appear to be playing well in recent weeks.
However, I don’t think Nick Faldo will lose a moment’s sleep worrying about the thoughts of ‘golfing people’ back home as he plots his own path to Ryder Cup glory. (more…)
Admission to The Ryder Cup at Valhalla is by ticket only and daily re-admission is not permitted. Once a ticket has been scanned for your first admission it is then redundant for the rest of the day and will not work a second time, so don’t leave the grounds and expect to get back in. (The only exception to this rule is in the event of a weather warning)
You must wear your ticket in plain view at all times.
There are a range of items that are prohibited so leave the following at home as you will not be allowed in with them and there is no storage provided for prohibited items…
Personal Electronic Devices (Including phones, blackberrys, PDA’s, TV’s, Games Consoles, MP3 Players, Radios, Pagers etc)
Cameras (Cameras are allowed for the practice rounds)
Food & Beverages (with the exception of one bottle of water with an unopened seal)
Weapons
Oversized Chairs (Small folding chairs without armrests are allowed)
Pets (No dogs or other pets)
Large Bags or Luggage (maximum bag size is 12″x12″x12″)
Coolers, Bicycles, Ladders Signs Banners, and Spiked Golf Shoes are also banned
It’s last chance saloon for a wild card place on the European Ryder Cup team this weekend. The final automatic places on the team will be determined at Gleneagles and then Nick Faldo will add his two wild card picks. Naturally Colin Montgomerie is still angling for a place as are Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, and Paul Casey just to mention a few. I’m really enjoying Conor O’Kanes new golf blog, so if you are looking for a really good golfing read head over to pgatourist.blogspot.com. His “Highlander” take on the battle for the last few places on the European team is hilarious!
Meanwhile across the water United States Ryder Cup team captain Paul Azinger announce his wild card picks for the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team with a special announcement at the Hotel Martinique in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. Remember he has 4 picks to make up his team to Faldo’s 2
Parking is always a hot topic around Ryder Cup time – Free Parking is available for all Ticket holders at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) with a complimentary shuttle service running from the KEC and downtown Louisville to Valhalla Golf Club.
The shuttle service starts at 6.45 am and runs through to 7.30pm Tues 16th to Thurs 18th and 8.00pm Friday 19th to Sunday 21st.
The shuttle takes approximately 30 mins each way.
Strict parking restrictions are in place and there is no public parking near Valhalla Golf Club.
Darren clinched the Dutch Open with another impressive round of 66 today, bringing him in 4 strokes ahead of Paul McGinley. The question on everyones mind is – has he done enough to secure a wildcard place on the Ryder Cup team?
Nick Faldo will announce his two wild card picks after the European team’s ten automatic qualifiers have been decided next week at the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles.
Clarke had a great outing last Ryder Cup, with 3 wins out of 3 – but we all know that Faldo is looking for current form not nostalgia and will no doubt keep his powder dry until he’s seen what Clarke brings to Gleneagles…
As feared, Luke Donald won’t be participating in this year’s Ryder Cup having undergone surgery on his left wrist. This is a significant, if fully expected, blow to the chances of the European team. Donald’s Ryder Cup record is excellent, having been a key contributor to the last two victories.
A comparison of Luke’s record with Tiger’s is interesting: Luke has won 5.5 points from a possible 7; Tiger has won 11 points from a possible 25. Tiger’s poor record in fourballs/foursomes is well documented. Luke is unbeaten in pairs.
For all of Tiger’s greatness (and yes, he is the greatest player to ever play the game), maybe his absence has been balanced by that of Luke Donald?
Congratulation to Padraig Harrington who is on fire, with a win at the PGA Championship. By adding the Wanamaker trophy to the Claret Jug he has sealed his place in history with back to back Majors victories and also further increases his position at the top of the automatic qualifiers for Team Europe.
Sergio Garcia, who started the PGA outside the top ten has jumped to third in the European standings with second place at Oakland Hills (which may be a small consolation for running up to Harrington again).
The PGA championship at Oakland Hills was the last chance saloon for players wanting to qualify for the US Ryder Cup Team and the automatic qualifiers are as follows:
* Phil Mickelson
* Stewart Cink
* Kenny Perry
* Jim Furyk
* Anthony Kim
* Justin Leonard
* Ben Curtis
* Boo Weekley
Ben Curtis zoomed up 13 places in the rankings after his tie for second place in the Championship which means that Steve Stricker, who went into the Championship in eighth place was bumped.
This leaves captain Paul Azinger with 4 captains picks to make up the US team, he has until Sept 2nd to announce his picks.
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