Greensboro, NC …. Rival USA Captain Davis Love 111 insists Darren Clarke is going to be hard-pressed not to choose Russell Knox as a Hazeltine ‘wildcard’ pick.

Love 111 had to withdraw from the recent PGA Championship as well this week’s defence of his Wyndham Championship title as recovers from hip surgery.

But his time away from the game has allowed Love 111 to concentrate more on his Ryder Cup duties and that’s also meant time spent studying the make-up of a likely European Team.

“Russell’s victory in the Travellers was very impressive,” said Love 111.

“But whether or not Darren choose him is one of the decisions a captain has to make and it’s not easy.

“You look at last year’s Presidents Cup and what Jay (Haas) did going down to No. 30 to pick Phil (Mickelson) to get the right team fit.

Davis Love 111, as the injured reigning Wyndham Championship titleholder, insists Darren Clarke will be hard picked not to select Russell Know as a wildcard pick.

“Also take what Jack Nicklaus said the first time he was Presidents Cup Captain, ‘I’m going to take the top 12 and not have any picks.

“I had that problem as Hunter Mahan was in the same spot in 2012.  He was No. 9 on the qualifying and it was one of the toughest phone calls I had to make, phoning Hunter to say I wasn’t going to pick him.

“And I’m going to be facing similar phone calls in coming weeks and so too is Darren but 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.”

Knox elected not to contest this week’s Greensboro event considering he one place outside of qualifying for Clarke’s team.

And it is a decision that surprised but is respected by Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello who holed a 21-foot birdie at his last to enjoy a share of the first round lead with a seven under par 63 in hot and humid conditions on the Sedgefield course.

Cabrera-Bello, who is seventh overall on the European Team points table, was afforded an invitation to compete this week while he’s also entered next week’s Made in Denmark event just to be assured of his place in Clarke’s team ahead of Clarke announcing his three wildcard picks at midday (UK time) on Tuesday August 30th.

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello surprised but understands why Russell Knox is not contesting the Wyndham Championship.

“It is hard for players to add tournaments when they sit down to work out their schedule but I thought given his position on the table Russell would have been playing this week.

“But it’s not my decision as it’s his and I respect that.”