Casey in favour of Clarke call-up
Paul Casey would love to see Darren Clarke line up alongside him at the Ryder Cup in three weeks’ time.
Clarke and Lee Westwood are the two favourites to be handed wild cards by European captain Ian Woosnam on Sunday if the top 10 in the points table is not changed by the BMW International Open starting in Munich today.
A spokesman for Clarke’s management company said yesterday: “Darren would like to be considered for a wild card and would obviously like to play if selected – and he has told Ian Woosnam this.”
Casey, who sealed his place by finishing fourth in the Bridgestone Invitational in the United States last weekend, remembers how much the Ulsterman helped him on his debut two years ago.
“Darren Clarke was brilliant that week, the words he said,” commented the Surrey golfer.
“He brought guys aside and would give you words of encouragement. It was a very, very comfortable feeling.
“We’re all part of a family and he is still part of that family. We’re certainly looking forward to getting him back. I’m not sure which event that is going to be, but we’re going to make him feel very, very at home and do everything we can.
“Woosie is the only guy who can tell you who he’s going to pick. All I know is when Darren Clarke is on his game, he is one of the finest in the world – an unbelievable golfer.
“He is a great guy and he will be supported. I would love him to be there, I really would. If he is ready then that’s great and if he gets picked, fantastic.”
Clarke’s presence at the first Ryder Cup on Irish soil looked highly unlikely when he missed the halfway cut at The Open last month and said he would not be playing again “for the foreseeable future” because of his wife Heather’s cancer battle.
Tragically, she lost her fight on August 13 and while some thought Clarke - the father of two young sons – might take the rest of the year off, it could well be that making himself available for the Ryder Cup is something he feels Heather would have wanted him to do, just as he encouraged others to play in the US PGA championship the week after her death.
After all, there will not be another match in Ireland in his career.
Everything will be revealed on Sunday evening – once Woosnam knows the 10 who have qualified from the 12-month points race now entering its final four days.
Seven are certainties – Casey, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, David Howell, uncapped Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson and also Luke Donald, whom Woosnam will try to get to know better this week after being granted his request to play alongside him in the first two rounds.
Jose Maria Olazabal and Dubliners Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley - desperate, of course, to play – are best placed to join them, but Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors, John Bickerton and Thomas Bjorn could yet climb into the top 10.
Controversially, Olazabal has decided not to play in Germany. He says he needs a rest, has not done well in the tournament in the past and has not been contacted by Woosnam about it.
“He wants to do what he wants to do,” responded the captain.
“He obviously doesn’t feel like this is one of his favourite golf courses.”
