EUROPEAN RYDER CUP captain Jose Maria Olazabal on Monday named England’s Ian Poulter and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts as his two ‘wildcard’ picks for next month’s tournament at Medinah, Illinois.
As expected, there is no place for Ireland’s Padraig Harrington who failed to make the cut despite a return to form in recent months.
It is the first European squad since 1997 that does not include the Dubliner, who has been part of winning teams on four occasions.
Poulter, 32, will be competing in his fourth Ryder Cup since making his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004 while the 29-year-old Colsaerts will be the only debutant in Olazabal’s team.
It is Poulter’s second wildcard after he received a similar pick in 2008, while Colsaerts is the first Belgian in the 85-year history of the event to compete in the Ryder Cup.
US captain Davis Love will announce his four wildcard picks on 4 September in New York.
European team for Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Nicolas Colsaerts.
Additional reporting by AFP.
