Ryder boost for Irish hopefuls
The Ryder Cup fortunes of Ireland’s big three, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, have taken an unexpected turn for the better in the past 48 hours.
Although Clarke and McGinley didn’t compete in the US PGA Championship, and Harrington failed to make the cut at Medinah, all three are miraculously better off than they were last week.
Darren Clarke now seems certain to be awarded one of the two wild cards, if he is willing to accept it, after the recent death of his wife Heather.
Sandy Lyle, who will be one of European captain Ian Woosnam's assistants, believes the Welshman will pick Clarke.
He said: "I am surprised about all the speculation regarding whether or not he will be involved. Of course he will.
"Heather's death is a tragedy but it wasn't sudden and I'm sure Darren will want to get back into the routine.
"He has already indicated he wants to play in Madrid before the Ryder Cup and I am sure he will want to play in front of an Irish gallery at the K Club.”
Woosnam will name his two wild cards at the conclusion of the final qualifying event, the BMW International Open in Munich, on September 3.
Meanwhile, Paul McGinley has moved up a place in Europe's Ryder Cup table despite not playing in the US PGA championship. Padraig Harrington also moved a place to the good, even though he missed the cut last Friday.
Jose Maria Olazabal's poor performance in Chicago is the reason why. The Spaniard had been third of the five who qualify off the table based on world ranking points, but by finishing only 55th has now been overtaken by Henrik Stenson, Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia.
Olazabal therefore switches to the separate list based on European Order of Merit points and he is just behind McGinley on that.
However, the margins for both McGinley and Harrington are narrow and they will be looking to improve on recent performances in the final two qualifying events to cement their September trip to the K Club.
European Table
Latest leading places in the European Ryder Cup table after the US PGA Championship (capitals indicate players currently in qualifying positions): (Five players qualify off world ranking table, next five off European points table. Captain Ian Woosnam adds two wild cards on September 4)
World Points:
1 LUKE DONALD 223.58
2 SERGIO GARCIA 221.63
3 HENRIK STENSON 211.51
4 DAVID HOWELL 210.15
5 COLIN MONTGOMERIE 207.88
6 Jose Maria Olazabal 203.89
7 Paul Casey 165.33
8 Padraig Harrington 154.46
9 Robert Karlsson 155.86
10 Carl Pettersson 154.12
European Points (1pt for every Euro):
1 Colin Montgomerie 2,436,079
2 David Howell 2,284,846
3 Sergio Garcia 1,911,166
3 ROBERT KARLSSON 1,902,799
4 Henrik Stenson 1,873,034
5 PAUL CASEY 1,723,597
7 PADRAIG HARRINGTON 1,515,791
8 PAUL McGINLEY 1,473,112
9 JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL 1,392,923
10 Luke Donald 1,387,665
