It was a lengthy and highly competitive race, but European Captain Paul McGinley has now completed his 12-man squad to face Tom Watson’s USA in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Deep inside the European Tour’s headquarters at Wentworth, the Irishman announced his three wildcard picks to compliment the nine players who had already secured automatic qualification.
The contenders had been narrowed down to a realistic five, with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Stephen Gallacher and Francesco Molinari all jostling for position in the captain’s mind.
In front of a packed media gathering, after reeling off the names of the automatic nine, McGinley added the names of Gallacher, Poulter and Westwood to complete what looks to be a highly formidable European team.
There will be disappointment for a few, particularly Luke Donald, who has been a huge part of the European success during the past decade. Someone instinctively accustomed to the rigours and demands of match-play, the Englishman will have felt that he had a strong case of receiving a wildcard, but his insipid form – zero top ten finishes since May – has proved costly.
Strong cases could be made for all of the players seeking a pick, and there will be debate and conjecture as to whether the captain has got it right, but there can be little doubt that Paul McGinley will have an extremely strong line-up of players at his disposal in Scotland at the end of this month.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher made it very difficult for the captain not to pick him. Missing out on automatic qualification by a single shot on Sunday in Italy, the 39-year-old produced a courageous performance under the most intense pressure. It continues what has been an impressive season, which has seen the Scot, nephew of Ryder Cup legend Bernard Gallacher, post eight top ten finishes around the world this year.
The West Lothian native also has a strong record at the often maligned PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles. Losing out in a playoff to Tommy Fleetwood last year, Gallacher has a total of seven top finishes in his career at the Perthshire venue, which would have only added to his appeal in the mind of McGinley.
Clearly, having a Scotsman on the team in Scotland will provide an even-more rampant atmosphere, but Gallacher is in the team on merit for his performances on the golf course. Yes, there is always an element of doubt with a rookie entering the cauldron of pressure that is the Ryder Cup, but all the signs point to the Scotsman being a strong asset for the European team.
Ian Poulter was the second pick to be confirmed, and was surely the easiest. The talisman at Medinah, the Englishman has a dominant record in the Ryder Cup, with his passion and determination being continually channelled into strong performances. Despite patchy form throughout the year, the 38-year-old can almost be banked on to raise his game for the biennial showpiece in just over three weeks’ time.
The final pick is perhaps the most divisive one. Paul McGinley elected to grant it to Lee Westwood, who has been an ever-present in the European team since 1997. Some observers, pointing out his record and strength on the greens, will believe that Luke Donald should have received that final wildcard, but it has gone to the six-time Ryder Cup winner.
Few can match Westwood in terms of experience, with the Englishman’s positive qualities behind the scenes well known. He is also highly compatible in terms of pairings, playing alongside a variety of players down the years. With three rookies on the team – Dubuisson, Donaldson and Gallacher – the influence of Westwood may prove to be important.
Ultimately, these three complete what is an impressive squad of 12. Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell had already qualified on merit ahead of today’s announcement.
Each member of the European team is ranked inside the top 40 in the Official World Golf Rankings, with four of them currently positioned inside the top five. Sport, let-alone an event of the nature of the Ryder Cup, isn’t played on paper, but coming to Scotland and leaving with the cherished Cup is undoubtedly an ominous proposition for Tom Watson and his team. But they may thrive as underdogs.
Our gazes have been longingly looking ahead to Gleneagles and the 40th edition of this remarkable sporting event, but with the teams completed, the countdown truly is on.
There are just 23 days to go.