Who Will Paul McGinley Hand His Gleneagles ‘Wildcard’ Picks?

As the emotions from Sunday’s thrilling conclusion to the Italian Open subside speculation is now rife who will receive the European ‘wildcard’ picks.

Paul McGinley will sit down this morning UK time with his two vice-captains Sam Torrance and Des Smyth and choose three players from a pool numbering as many as seven.

Those in the mix include:-

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, the England pair of Luke Donald and Ian Poulter, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, Italy’s Francesco Molinari and England’s Lee Westwood.

One pick is certain and that’s Poulter.

He’s played in four European Teams since making his debut in 2004 while he was ‘wildcard’ pick in both 2008 and 2012.

And Poulter displayed at Medinah why he’s known as ‘Mr. Ryder Cup’ leading a resurgent European Team late on Saturday afternoon  that proved to be the springboard to the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ a day later.

If McGinley’s smart the next pick will be Gallacher.

What Gallacher almost achieved in Italy earlier today was very much akin to McGinley’s own drive to qualify automatically.

And McGinley should remember Gallacher committed himself to last year’s Seve Trophy and  also made himself available to contest the EurAsia Cup earlier this year.

And if the views of World No. 1 and tearaway European Team qualifier Rory McIlroy count for anything then Gallacher will also be handed a ‘wildcard’ pick and thus make his Ryder Cup debut.

On Gallacher’s side is a recent history of European Team captains picking rookies.

Two years ago Jose Maria Olazabal picked rookie Nicolas Colsaerts while Monty chose Italian-born rookie Edoardo Molinari in 2010 and Luke Donald, who has now played in four winning European Teams, was a rookie in being picked in 2004.

As well, Scot Andrew Coltart, who has finished two spots outside the automatics got Mark James’ vote in 1999.

What becomes difficult is the choice of a third pick.

Donald stated here at TPC Boston on Thursday that would like to think McGinley will consider choosing a player who can deliver a point when needed in the Sunday Singles.

In fact, since making his Ryder Cup debut as a rookie in 2004 Donald has delivered three points from his four Singles matches.

We here at www.golfbytourmiss.com see McGinley choosing – Gallacher, Donald and Poulter.

 



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