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Clarke Left Off Ryder Squad

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 1, 2008

GLENEAGLES, Scotland - Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo used his two picks Sunday on Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, a surprising decision that left Darren Clarke off the European team for the first time since 1995.

Clarke figured to be a likely choice because he played on the past five teams and has won twice on the European Tour in the past four months.

Instead, Faldo went with a pair of Englishmen at the end of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Poulter was the runner-up at the British Open, one of only two top-10s he has had all year. He skipped the Johnnie Walker, where third place or better would have earned him a spot on the team, and instead played the Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour and missed the cut for the second straight week.
Oliver Wilson clinched the 10th and final automatic spot by finishing in a tie for 10th place at Gleneagles, while Justin Rose and Soren Hansen also qualified to make their debuts at the competition.

Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell had already made the team.

Clarke said he respected Faldo's decision.

"Obviously, I am disappointed that I wasn't selected, but I have dealt with much worse and it will make me all the more determined to make the team that will play in Wales next time," Clarke said in a statement.

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