Darren Clarke is staring at a Tartan golf backlash if Russell Knox is not handed a Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick.

Despite Belgium’s Thomas Pieters emerging as a candidate for one of Clarke’s three Hazeltine picks when he announces those at 12.30pm (UK time) tomorrow Knox reckons his recent PGA Tour win should count more than Pieters victory in rural Denmark.

When Clarke confirms his picks Knox will still be in his Long Island hotel room bed after having hosted a corporate outing yesterday (MON) on the famed Winged Foot course where USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love 111 captured the 1997 PGA Championship.

The Scot ended his last competitive round ahead of Clarke announcing his selections with a one under par 70 for a four-over par tally on the final day of the Barclays Championship at Bethpage Park.

Despite the very uncomfortable continuing hot and very humid conditions, Knox was clearly still affected by a mystery virus he’s battled with all week and picked-up from his wife’s niece.

Russell Knox facing an anxious wait for the phone call that could change his career

However while the Scot looked run downed, Knox remained confident he has shown Clarke enough with two victories in the European Ryder Cup 50-week qualifying period to warrant a Hazeltine pick.

“This bug I’ve had all week and the heat has really sucked all my energy this week as I was starting to hack it around out there,” said Knox.

“But then standing here now I really don’t know if I’m going to get a pick or not.”

In fact, Knox ended his round with Pieters just a shot from the lead and with a handful of holes to complete in the rain-delayed Made in Denmark event and it prompted him to ask: “Did Pieters win?”

Indeed, an hour after Knox handed in his scorecard, Pieters holed a four-foot birdie putt in shooting a 65 to win by a shot and become the first Belgium-born to capture three Tour titles.

But when it was put to Knox surely Clarke cannot select Pieters, who would also be a Ryder Cup rookie, given the Belgium won in a field boasting just four players inside the world top-50 and the highest being Shane Lowry at World No. 35.

“That’s right and I agree with that,” he added.

“So I have that going for me but then if Pieters win then maybe we should both be on the team, I don’t know.

“It’s going to be interesting and while I should be still asleep when the picks are announced I know Darren will call me beforehand, so I really hope it is the phone call I will be expecting.

“It will be really great for my career and also be an amazing experience to play in a Ryder Cup so I feel like I deserve to be in the team.

“And if selected,  I would bring to the European Team a strength in that my game built on hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and at times, as we saw a few weeks ago at the Travellers, I can also hole long putts.

“I can also make a lot of birdies, too.

“And a massive plus for me is that I have got so used over here in the States playing alongside guys like Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and other American players who will be on the U.S. Team.”

Indeed, Knox contested the opening two rounds of the Barclays alongside Spieth and with the double Major winning Texan declaring:  “It would be ridiculous if Darren didn’t pick Russell for a ‘wildcard’ pick”.

“So I have got so used to playing in the States and feel so comfortable in front of the big American crowds we get at tournaments like this week at the Barclays,” said Knox.

“You take that putt I stood over at the last hole in Connecticut as that wasn’t easy not being an American but I showed then and also this week, I never give up and I don’t quit and I am proud of myself as despite feeling so terrible this week I shot under par today on one of the hardest courses in the U.S.

“It’s great also that guys like Jordan and others have come out supporting me for a pick but when it all boils down I only need to persuade one person”.

But then Clarke’s choices only got harder after Pieters win in Denmark.

Six years ago, Eduardo Molinari birdied the last three holes to win at Gleneagles and then European Team captain, Colin Montgomerie handed him a ‘wildcard’ pick thus ensuring a record number of six rookies in the eventual 2010 Celtic Manor winning side.

Clarke already has five rookies in this team and the big question now, and after selecting Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer as most agree, who gets the other pick – Knox or Pieters?

We will learn the answer to that question at 12.30pm UK time tomorrow (TUES).