Passed Over to Play, Watson Added to US Team as Vice Captain

German Kaymer, who famously holed the putt which retained The Ryder Cup for Europe in the “Miracle of Medinah” four years ago, flew into London last night after finishing sixth in his homeland yesterday.

“This will be another great chapter in the history of the Ryder Cup, and certainly one that goes along with honouring Mr Palmer as well”.

Flags blow in the wind on the 18th hole before the Ryder Cup golf tournament Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

Clarke also insisted he was not concerned at having six Ryder Cup rookies on his team, and he is adamant that the newcomers will all be fully prepared for the challenge ahead.

He still has the likes of FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose to call on but, according to North, will let his newcomers get a taste of the atmosphere as early as possible. “You have to be the favorite, the Americans”. He’s been right there at the forefront with us.

Still it is no surprise the hosts are fancied to prevail, given the relative levels of experience in each team. The talent that they all possess, I have no worries at all about the strength of that team.

McIlroy swats aside the notion that the residing of so many European players in Florida dilutes the Ryder Cup edge. And from a European point of view, they are really looking forward to it.

“They have great leadership. And they have momentum from past successes”.

As for honoring the life and legacy of Arnold Palmer, who died Sunday at 87, Love said both he and Team Europe captain Darren Clarke intend to collaborate on different player recognition during play, which begins Friday. He’s an easy-going, thoughtful guy, but don’t be fooled: Ryan’s a great match-play player.

Europe captain Darren Clarke insists winning the last three Ryder Cups is irrelevant as his side embark on their bid to win an unprecedented four in a row.

“We didn’t have a task force as such”. “You’ve done everything that you’ve done, and rightly so”. I think when we started talking about this year’s Ryder Cup, we felt like we needed experience with our assistant captains. Watson is believed to have been overlooked as Love could not find an obvious playing partner for a player once voted the least popular on the PGA Tour.

True enough. Anybody remember the names Tiger Woods, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, J.B. Holmes, Jeff Overton, Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Fowler and Spieth?

“Ryan Moore was very strong yesterday”. Sometimes you just need that. You want something that you don’t have. It was tough at the closing ceremony. I’m pretty confident about how we’re going to go about our business.

Clarke’s first official duty after landing in Minnesota will be a joint press conference at 3.30pm with his usa counterpart Davis Love III, which takes place in the media centre at Hazeltine National.