Russel Knox was not for one moment downplaying Thomas Pieters success in the Made in Denmark event but the Scot reckons his recent Travellers Championship win should can more weight when it comes to a Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick.

European Team captain Darren Clarke is set to announce his three picks tomorrow (TUES) at 12.30pm from the Wentworth Club ballroom in Surrey.

At the corresponding time of 7.30am in the States, Knox will still be in his Long Island hotel room bed after having hosted a corporate outing Monday on the famed Winged Foot course where USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love 111 captured the 1997 PGA Championship.

Knox ended one place shy of automatically qualifying for Clarke’s team despite two victories in the 50-week European Team qualifying period but with last November’s WGC – HSBC Champions win not counting as the Florida-based Scot had not joined the European Tour beforehand as is the pre-requisite under European Ryder Cup rules.

And after posting a final round one under par 70 for a four over par tally at the conclusion of the Barclays Championship at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island Knox, who battled all week with a mystery virus, spoke of his hopes in gaining a ‘wildcard’ pick.

Russell Knox agrees his Travelers Championship win should carry more Ryder Cup selection stature than Thomas Pieters win in Denmark.  (Photo – Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

“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,” he said.

“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 Belgium’s Thomas Pieters just a shot from the lead with a handful of holes to complete in the Made in Denmark event and it prompted him to ask: “Did Pieters win?”

Indeed, an hour after Knox ended his round 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, and given the Belgium teed-up in Denmark three spots lower on the qualifying ‘World’ points table than Knox who missed out by one place.

“That’s right and I agree with that,” said Knox when that observation was put to him.

Thomas Pieters wins 2016 Made In Denmark (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

“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 is 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 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.

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).