Haas/Cink earn Ryder spots

Haas will be the oldest member of the American team

Jay Haas and Stewart Cink have named as the two wildcard players in the American Ryder Cup team.

Haas, 50, will become the second oldest ever American team member when play starts in Detroit on 17 September.

Cink, who is 31 years old and the current world number 14, made his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry two years ago.

The top 10 players in the US Cup standings at the end of this week automatically qualified to take on Europe at Oakland Hills in September.

Haas had been in the top 10 for the last three years but lost his place on the last day of qualification and has not won a tournament since 1993.

But US captain Hal Sutton evidently respects the experience of Haas, who made his Ryder Cup debut 21 years ago and last played in the event in 1995.

"I was in the car when Hal rang and didn't know what to expect," said Haas.

"There was a little small talk and then I said 'I would sure love to be on the team'.

"I was waiting for a 'but', but it didn't come. I got pretty emotional and it's pretty exciting. I'll be playing with people who are my kids' age."

I don't ever remember being this elated in my life Stewart Cink

The oldest player to represent America was Raymond Floyd, who competed at The Belfry in 1993 aged 51 and 20 days.

Cink's previous Cup experience and three recent top 10 finishes earned him the nod ahead of Steve Flesch and Jerry Kelly, who finished above him in the points table, but who would have been Cup debutants.

"I don't ever remember being this elated in my life," said Cink.

"It's like a dream come true and I am so excited to play for the United States and play for Hal."

Chris DiMarco and Chris Riley played their way into the team after top-four finishes at the USPGA Championship at the weekend.

DiMarco was edged out in a three-way playoff for the title by eventual winner Vijay Singh and Riley tied in fourth place with Ernie Els.

"I'm proud of myself that I went out and did it and got it done," said DiMarco after climbing from 15th spot to eighth in standings.

"I don't know how Hal Sutton was thinking at all this week. I know you guys (the media) never mentioned me the whole week.

US RYDER CUP TEAM Tiger Woods Phil Mickelson Davis Love III Jim Furyk Kenny Perry David Toms Chad Campbell Chris DiMarco Fred Funk Chris Riley Stewart Cink Jay Haas

"Everybody kept going right to 14 (in the standings) and stopping at 15. So you guys were my motivation for sure."

DiMarco and the 30-year-old Riley, who will be rookies on the team, dislodged left-hander Flesch and Haas from the top 10.

Flesch, who was ninth at the start of the week, slipped to 11th after a closing 76 earned him a tie for 37th place at Whistling Straits, level with Haas (77), who dropped from 10th to 12th in the standings.