Uproar at Faldo wild-card snub for Clarke

Throughout his long and controversial career, Nick Faldo has made a habit of upsetting people and ploughing his own uncompromising route to success and as Ryder Cup captain he is evidently planning on doing so again after stunning the sporting world last night. In ignoring the seemingly irresistible claims of Darren Clarke and picking Ian Poulter alongside Paul Casey as his two wild cards, Faldo left himself exposed to criticism, from both inside and outside the team room

While Casey's inclusion for this month's match in Kentucky was widely anticipated, Poulter's selection came as a surprise, especially as it came at the expense of Clarke. Even Faldo's opposite number, Paul Azinger, expressed his shock. "I thought it was between Casey and Poulter for second pick," he said. "I thought Clarke was a lock." Azinger was not being mischievous; everyone thought that. Everything pointed towards it.

For a start, Faldo has always maintained he would make his choices on form, but despite the Ulsterman winning by four strokes in the Netherlands last week, he opted for the far more inexperienced performer who has happened to miss the last two cuts in America. However, it was the fact that Poulter was even playing in the States at all, and not here at the last counting tournament, that really has the tongues wagging. Bernard Gallacher, a former captain, led the chorus of the disgruntled."I think the morale in the team might be a bit lower for picking Poulter ahead of Clarke," said Gallacher, who captained Faldo on three occasions. "There will be a few players today thinking, 'Nick, you've made a mistake'. He is slightly controversial and he's lived up to it."

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Poulter withdrew from the Johnnie Walker Championship on Monday, which prompted players, including his protégé Nick Dougherty, to speculate that Faldo "has given Poulter the nod". The captain rubbished that rumour and insisted he had asked Poulter to play in Gleneagles. The 32-year-old still had a chance of making the team by right – he would have needed to have finished third – and it angered many of his peers that he forsook that opportunity for what they saw as selfish reasons.

Poulter, himself, admitted last night that he "feared the worst" after his poor display in Boston and confessed that "with hindsight maybe I should have gone to Gleneagles".

Faldo revealed: "Poults was really flat emotionally when I rang him. He has been put through the wringer. I told him, 'Racquel, put on your overcoat. It's time to go to the Ryder Cup'." Poulter, a fan of Only Fools and Horses, was clearly relieved. "I'm so excited to be in the team," he said, from his home in Orlando. "I'm overwhelmed, speechless."

That was the majority reaction. Poulter may have finished second in the Open at Birkdale in July but elsewhere he has recorded just one top 10 finish all season and that came in Abu Dhabi in January. He has not shot a single round under 68 since then. In fairness, the flamboyant Englishman has been consistent in racking up the top-30s and, as Faldo pointed out: "He was the highest ranked player who had not already made the team." Undeniably, Poulter is a brilliant putter and a confident competitor. He is also a friend of Faldo's, however, and that inevitably assisted in filling the whispers here.

It will not help Faldo that Clarke (left) is so popular, both in Europe and America. Since losing his wife, Heather, to cancer two years ago, he has fallen out of the world's top 250 and risen back up the rankings and now stands on the brink of the top 50. The 40-year-old is a veteran of five previous Ryder Cups, has a stellar record and with Lee Westwood has forged one of the most famous fourball and foursomes partnerships in the Cup's history. Faldo, who telephoned Clarke to break the news just before the grand unveiling, said: "You could sense he was disappointed. Darren had made a massive charge and was right there. It was a tough, tough decision."

To most it is "unfathomable". In a poll of 32 players at Gleneagles to see who they would pick, only one opted for Poulter. The number of the dismayed may even include two of the best players on Faldo's team. The affinity between Clarke and Westwood is no secret, while Padraig Harrington declared his wish to see his fellow Irishman in Louisville as recently as Thursday.

Plainly, that was the general feeling throughout the game. The scale of the furore can be gauged by the claims of Colin Montgomerie going largely overlooked. Despite released a conciliatory statement, he will have been a bitter Scotsman last night.

He has had a well-publicised spat with Poulter this last week, when he accused Poulter of having "a hotline" with Faldo. The last thing he would have wanted was to miss his first Ryder Cup match since 1991; the second would surely have been for Poulter to be there instead. He is giving a press conference at Muirfield this morning and it may, just may, make for interesting listening. The fact that Faldo only found the time to leave a voice message will not have brightened his mood.

One irony is that Montgomerie will now left stranded on 23.5 points, one and a half points off the record for individual points scored. Yes, Faldo's mark will remain intact.

Yet Montgomerie, just like Clarke, maintains he will return from this setback and be ready to make a charge towards the 2010 Ryder Cup in Newport. That is a storyline for another day.

All that can said with any certainty now is that this Ryder Cup will not be the same without Monty. Neither will it be the same without Clarke. The Europe Ryder Cup team entered a new era last night. For Faldo's sake, it must be hoped it is to be an era of success.

Ryders on the storm Men who will carry the European flag

*Padraig Harrington (Irl)

Age 37 World ranking 3 Caps 4 W7-H2-L8

First European to win back-to-back majors, Harrington goes to Kentucky as the "Celtic Tiger". No obvious partner for fourballs or foursomes, but the Irishman is the scalp to target.

*Lee Westwood (Eng) Age 35 WR 12 Caps 5 W14-H3-L8

A phenomenal recent record in the Ryder Cup, the Englishman has transferred such form to the strokeplay fairways. Such an asset for Faldo. Europe's Iron Man will play all five games.

*Sergio Garcia (Sp) Age 28 WR 4 Caps 4 W14-H2-L4

Youngest man (at 19) ever to play in the Ryder Cup and one of the best, too. Seems to find sanctuary, in this unique team environment, from his agonies in the majors. Inspirational.

*Henrik Stenson (Swe) Age 32 WR 6 Caps 1 W1-H1-L1

An absolute must for the fourballs, with his power and birdie-making prowess. Stenson is seemingly made for Valhalla. A former world matchplay winner who sank the winning putt in 2006.

*Robert Karlsson (Swe) Age 39 WR 21 Caps 1 W0-H2-L1

Has had an incredible year in the majors, finishing eighth, fourth, seventh and 20th. An imposing specimen, something of an oddball. Awesome power with a silky touch.

*Miguel Angel Jimenez (Sp) Age 44 WR 18 Caps 2 W1-H0-L3

"The Mechanic" is nobody's idea of a flamboyant Spaniard but what he may lack in thrills he makes up in consistency. Has won more events over 40 than under that age.

*Graeme McDowell (N Irl) Age 29 WR 29 Debut

The Ulsterman has been a Ryder Cup player in waiting ever since he arrived on the scene and will likely be a fixture for years to come. A former Walker Cup player who was brought up on matchplay.

*Justin Rose (Eng) Age 28 WR 14 Debut

Difficult to believe this will be his debut. Proved how much he wanted the place by playing the last two events in Europe. Has not enjoyed his greatest season but is still a big-time performer.

*Soren Hansen (Den) Age 34 WR 45 Debut

One of the finest ball-strikers on Tour, who at last has the confidence to match his ability. With questions over his nerve, this could be the making of him. Second Dane to play in the cup.

*Oliver Wilson (Eng) Age 28 WR 51 Debut

Will become the first modern Ryder Cup player without a fully fledged professional victory to his name. Nevertheless, has been runner-up seven times and has proved at Gleneagles that he has the bottle.

*Paul Casey (Eng) Age 31 WR 35 Caps 2 W3-H2-L1

Supremely talented and superb at matchplay, yet can still count himself fortunate to be given the nod. A wretched season by his standards, but he has shown just enough in the last month to instil some confidence.

*Ian Poulter (Eng) Age 32 WR 23 Caps 1 W1-H0-L1

Second in the Open obviously got Poulter the nod, although mutterings will long continue about his refusal to travel to Scotland to try to earn his place by right. Great putter; great confidence.