Bethpage Park, NY ... Four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy along with World No. 1 Jason Day plus the duo of reigning Open Champion, Henrik Stenson and the US Open winner, Dustin Johnson declared Russell Knox is deserving of a European Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick.
Not for a long time has some of game’s greatest players thrown their collective weight behind a player.
And their combined voices surely places European Team Captain, Darren Clarke in a difficult position not to go ahead and select the Scot as one of his three ‘wildcard’ picks when the Northern Irishman makes that announcement next Tuesday at 12.30pm UK time.
Clarke may very well have already decided his three picks and with two certain to be Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer who between boast 12 Ryder Cups (Westwood 9 and Kaymer 3).
Rory McIlroy heads a push for Russell Knox to be handed a Hazeltine ‘wildcard’ pick. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
But what is guaranteed is that if Clarke does not select Knox Europe’s team leader has got plenty of answering ahead of him at Tuesday’s announcement.
While the selection has nothing to do with the likes of McIlroy, Day, Stenson and Johnson they each agree they’ve seen enough this past season of Knox to know he’s worthy of a first European Team cap.
“For starters, I would not like to be in Darren’s shoes for one minute next Tuesday as he’s going to have to disappoint more than one person, as there’s a handful of guys he could choose and he’s going to have to ring them to say ‘sorry, I’m not picking you’”, said McIlroy ahead of this week’s Barclays Championship.
“We all know, and Russell’s being saying this, that if he had of been a member of the European Tour when he won the HSBC Champions late last year we would not be having this discussion as he would have qualified automatically.
“So he’s effectively won twice during the qualifying period and on results he should be in the team.”
Like McIlroy, Stenson will be competing in his fourth Ryder Cup but for a first occasion as a Major Champion, and the Swede reckons Knox deserves his place in Clarke’s team.
“Even though we saw some of the more experienced Europeans played really last week in the Wyndham, Russell’s played some really good golf including that impressive win three weeks ago at the Travellers,” said Stenson.
World No. 1 Jason Day has seen enough of Russell Knox to suggest he deserves a ‘wildcard’ pick. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“And you have to take into account his win last year out in Shanghai as if that had of counted he would be on the team already.”
Day is defending the Barclays Championship and though he’ll never compete in a Ryder Cup, he knows about Knox to like what he sees. The Aussie also makes a valid point in stating what better breeding ground for a European than to play your first Ryder Cup Stateside.
“Russell has been very impressive this season and I’ve got to know him well this year,” said Day.
“He’s a quiet, unassuming sort of guy but then he’s been making a lot of noise of late getting himself into the top-20 on the World Rankings and doing that in his own quite way.
“And granted I know that Darren’s got five rookies in his team already why not go with a sixth and choose Russell because as good as Russell now is, he’s got to begin his Ryder Cup career somewhere and why not this year.
“If Darren does pick, and given what Russell’s achieved this year, it allows Russell to get that first Ryder Cup under his belt as I can see him being a member of the European Ryder Cup team for many years to come.
“So he has to start somewhere as he’s playing some great golf of late”.
Dustin Johnson got ‘hosed’ by Russell Knox when they competed alongside each other in Shanghai.
Johnson still remembers vividly Knox beating him down the stretch last November in Shangahi posting a 68 to the Americans 71 and relegating Johnson into a share of fifth place.
“Russell’s a very good, solid player and I know how good he is from first hand as I got hosed by him out in Shanghai,” said the American.
“So I think he’s earned one of Darren’s picked and it would not surprise me and many more out here if he’ll be in the European Team.
“He’s deserved to be on their team.”
Others backing Knox to win selection on the European Team include:-
US Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love 111:
“Russell’s victory in the Travellers was very impressive so if I was in Darren’s shoes I think Russell is deserving his place in the European Team.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Russell getting a pick.”
Graeme McDowell, played in the past four European Ryder Cup teams and is also hoping for a ‘wildcard’ pick.
“Russell’s the 20th ranked player in the world and he’s done enough to earn a European Team cap no matter how he performs this week at the Barclays”.
