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17:21 GMT, Sunday, 31 August 2008 18:21 UK

Casey and Poulter given wildcards

Paul Casey (left) and Poulter earn their third and second Ryder Cups caps respectively

European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo handed his two wildcards to England's Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.

The pair complete the 12-strong team after Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson sealed the last three automatic spots at Gleneagles.

The decision means Colin Montgomerie misses out on making a ninth Ryder Cup team, while five-time Cup veteran Darren Clarke was also left out.

"I feel very good about those two picks," said Faldo.

"It's been on my mind a long time and these last couple of weeks, and this has been the big day, the day you want to get over.

"I'm absolutely overwhelmed. It's awesome. I'll bring excitement, I'll bring flair and I'll bring the passion "
Ian Poulter

"I know how to talk to golfers, and as a golfer I've been there, done that, but to have to make a decision that obviously guys will be emotional about either way is tough.

"I am now very excited, I have got a team and I can now talk to my team. I will start giving them a few thoughts and ask them a few questions on what they want to do and start getting some communciation lines open."

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

2008 European Ryder Cup team


Casey, 31, has played in the last two Ryder Cups, while Poulter, 32, who last competed in the 2004 match at Oakland Hills, caught Faldo's eye with a runner-up place at the Open at Royal Birkdale.

"I've been watching these guys through the summer," said Faldo.

"Ian is a very determined guy, I love his attitude and what he did at the Open - that back nine he played with the intention to win and had that emotional feeling."

On Casey, Faldo said: "I was waiting for the putting to turn around. That has been very important.

"He's a former World Matchplay champion, he has an extremely good record in the Ryder Cup and, going back, the Walker Cup."

Poulter chose not to fly back from America for the last qualifying event, this weekend's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

He could have qualified for the team by right with a third-place finish, and his decision not to attend drew widespread criticism.

"It was such a tough decision to make and it might have been the wrong decision looking back. Maybe I should have gone to play Gleneagles," said Poulter.

"I'm absolutely overwhelmed. It's awesome. I'll bring excitement, I'll bring flair and I'll bring the passion I always play golf with and I think that will be an asset to the team."

"The guys he picked are really good. His dilemma is a nice one to have"
US captain Paul Azinger

Casey was similarly delighted by his wildcard, and said: "It is very flattering considering the large number of in-form players Nick had to choose from.

"I have had the fantastic experience of being part of two winning European Ryder Cup sides and hope that we can make it a third at Valhalla."

Clarke, who played heroically as a wildcard at the K Club two years ago shortly after the death of his wife Heather, was favourite for a pick after winning in Holland last week.

"Nick rang me after my last round at Gleneagles to say that I wasn't going to be one of his picks and I simply wished him all the best," Clarke said.

"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 (2010).

"I would like to wish him and his team all the very best for Valhalla. I will be supporting them from wherever I am."

Montgomerie, who is expected to captain the European team at Gleneagles in 2014, has been a talisman of the side for a decade and has never lost a singles match.

His omission means there are no Scots in the team for the first time since 1937. If Montgomerie has played in his last Ryder Cup, he will end up two points short of Faldo's record total of 25.

"Monty's summer wasn't great and when I am looking at 10 guys (automatic qualifiers) I'm looking to what to add to the team," said Faldo.

Montgomerie added: "Although I am, of course, very disappointed not to have played my way into the team or into contention for a pick, I am delighted at the obvious strength and depth of the European team," he said.

"I wish Nick and the team the very best of luck and while I shall certainly feel sad not to be playing a part, as I sit glued to the TV I know the overwhelming emotion I will be feeling is pride."

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"Clarke is surely entitled to feel aggrieved "
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United States captain Paul Azinger said he was surprised by Faldo's picks.

"I thought it was between Casey and Poulter. I thought Clarke was a lock," Azinger said. "But the guys he picked are really good. His dilemma is a nice one to have.

"You look at all the guys he had to choose ... I don't have that. It's not like I have a bunch of veterans with monster records at the Ryder Cup."

Azinger will name four wildcards on Tuesday, but unlike the last five US skippers he will be without the injured world number one Tiger Woods.

Faldo also chose not to appoint a second vice-captain alongside Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.

He had given the job to Paul McGinley, but the Irishman decided to relinquish the role in order to try - in vain - to qualify for the team.

Europe have won the last three matches and five of the last six in the biennial event with the US.

The 37th Ryder Cup takes place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from 19-21 September.




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Related to this story:

Gallacher queries Poulter call-up (31 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Wilson & Rose make Ryder Cup team (31 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Havret hangs onto Gleneagles lead (30 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Rose & Hansen maintain Cup push (29 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Montgomerie hits back at Poulter (29 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Poulter denies wildcard guarantee (28 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Montgomerie aiming for wildcard (27 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Final battle for Ryder Cup places (27 Aug 08 |  Golf )
European Ryder Cup rankings (26 Aug 08 |  Golf )
Clarke surges to Holland victory (24 Aug 08 |  Golf )

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