A day after the biggest let down of his career and Scotland’s Russell Knox has suggested possible changes to the European Ryder Cup selection team process.
Knox was a lone figure today (WED) on the very far end of the TPC Boston practice range and venue for Friday’s starting Deutsche Bank Championship and the second event of the four-tournament FedEx Cup Play-Off Series.
Scotland’s top-ranked player revealed European Team captain Darren Clarke phoned him Monday morning (US Eastern time) as Knox made his way to hosting a corporate outing at the famed Winged Foot Club on New York’s Long Island.
Clarke’s 90-second phone call was very much to-the-point and with Knox intentionally not wanting to ask any questions of Clarke why he wasn’t picked, and simply wishing the European Team well.
Russell Knox was not whistling ‘Dixie’ a day after one of the biggest let downs of his career. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It was the shortest of conversations and it was obvious Darren did not want to have to call me as it was a hard call for him to make, so it was very short,” said Knox.
“He said it wasn’t the phone call I was expecting. He didn’t mention who he had picked and I didn’t ask. I just felt what was the point if it wasn’t me, I didn’t care.
“He wished me well and I wished him and team well and that was it, as it didn’t need to be any longer.”
However, the snubbing of Knox has raised many questions going back even to earlier this year as to why Knox, as the reigning WGC – HSBC Champion, was not selected in Clarke’s European EurAsia Cup side in Malaysia?
And more recently, and while Knox has taken Clarke’s decision bravely on the chin, there’s questions over the pressure placed on the very affable Scot in phone calls by both Clarke and Hazeltine vice-captain, Ian Poulter seemingly leaning on Knox to tee-up in the recent Wyndham Championship.
In the aftermath of being overlooked for a Hazeltine pick, Knox is already seriously questioning if he made the right choices over the 50-week qualifying period and in moving forward wondering if he will continue to be a European Tour member.
“I am very disappointed but then I understand Darren was in an extremely difficult position with the picks, and it wasn’t as though he deliberately left me out with regards the picks,” said Knox.
Life goes on! Scotland’s Russell Knox on the TPC Boston range and determined to capture this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship. ({Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Looking back on it maybe I could have done better in reaching out more to be a part of the European Team and to get to know the guys as well as I could have, so I kind of blame myself for that.
“Also I had hardly any conversations with Darren and maybe I could have done that better.
“But it’s frustrating when I compare my resume in regards to what I’ve achieved this season and others who made the European Team.
“At the same time, this has been best year of my life as I have won twice and I have to look at it from all the positives but then I could have done a little more in playing a little better. I could have won another tournament.
“But in saying that I am very proud of myself and I made the commitment to the European Tour and it was a success while Andrea (wife) enjoyed travelling to play in Europe and I do stand here proud of myself.”
With still a month to the start of competition on Hazeltine, and a month for players to get back into form or in Thomas Pieters case drop off in playing well, Knox has suggested Europe possibly consider introducing a similar ‘wildcard’ selection process as the Americans.
Rival USA Captain Davis Love 111 will name three of his four picks on Monday night at the close of this week’s Deutsche Bank event here to the south of Boston.
Scotland’s Russell Knox wins the Travelers Championship in a field boasting five 2016 USA Ryder Cup competitors but gets overlooked for a ‘wildcard’ pick in favour of Thomas Pieters.
Love 111 will then announce his final ‘wildcard’ pick after the Tour Championship on Sunday September 25th and at half-time in the NBCs TV coverage of ‘Sunday Night NFL Football’ match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears.
“Europe could consider adopting what the USA Team now have in place because they talk about picking guys in form and Thomas Pieters is in unbelievable form but in a month’s time someone who is not playing good might be playing amazing,” said Knox.
“Maybe that is a good way to go in the future but then I may not play good these next few events and it wouldn’t make a difference or I could out and catch fire and win this week or maybe next week.
“The FedEx Cup events are massive now and you have to see what importance the US Ryder Cup team have placed on them with Davis leaving one pick to just after the Tour Championship so that he can pick a player who is coming into form.
“If you can win an event with the game’s best players are competing, and that is the scenario each week of the FedEx Cup, then surely that has to carry more weight.
“But now that I am not going to be playing the Ryder Cup, and I will be supporting the European Tour full one, I only have one goal and that is to win one of these next three events so that I can have a crack at the FedEx Cup.”
Russell Knox happy to move on after the set-back of being denied a Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick.
And if there is anything that Knox may change, and if he also elects to retain European Tour membership, he would not change anything he’s done in the 50-week European Ryder Cup team qualifying period.
“I wouldn’t change a thing as I have played a lot of golf this year given also it was the first time in my career I played both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.
“Not playing the Wyndham Championship has been a strong topic of conversation and I could have played there given Darren asked to me go there but I chose not to.
“But I was happy with my decision even though I was informed I had to finish top-5 to qualify for Darren’s team, so that would have been a tough assignment even though I was playing well.
“The thing is also what could they have learnt about my game if I played Wyndham that they did not already know.
“It was clear at that point when I spoke to Darren he did not want to pick a rookie as Thomas had not gone nuts with his game.
“And also I don’t think playing any more events in Europe than I did would have helped my case for qualifying because there just so many bigger events week-in and week-out over here in the States.
“Though I look back and think that if I hadn’t of forced Rory (McIlroy) into playing two of the best 3-wood shots of his career down the stretch of the K Club I could have won the Irish Open.
“While for 70 holes I just played so well at the Players Championship albeit for the 71st hole and could have finished higher up there or be right there fighting Jason Day and have made Darren’s side.
“But then everyone striving to make the team would have so many if what’s.”
However, while Knox is happy with his schedule but just a day after the biggest set-back in his career he is undecided if he will retain European Tour membership.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, so we’ll see,” he said.
“But I am over it now and I have respect Darren’s decision and while I don’t fully agree with it, he has an amazing team and I positive they will do fine.
“The next chapter for me is to move forward and focus on winning this week.”
