Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters and experienced duo Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were named by Europe captain Darren Clarke as wildcard picks yesterday to complete his Ryder Cup team.

Clarke opted for the powerful 24-year-old Pieters over Scotland’s Russell Knox and England’s Luke Donald, bringing to six the number of rookies in the 12-man team who will defend the trophy against the US in Hazeltine, Minnesota.

“Lee Westwood is one of the most experienced Ryder Cup players of all time and Martin is also a Ryder Cup stalwart,” Clarke told reporters.

“The third choice came down to Knox and Pieters. I had to phone Russell and tell him.

“It was one of the toughest calls I’ve had to make. But the way Thomas has played golf over the last four weeks has im-pressed me so much I found it impossible to leave him out.”

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