EUROPEAN

• Faldo picks Poulter, Casey for Ryder Cup

  
  

  Perthshire, Scotland (Sports Network) - Nick Faldo selected Ian Poulter and Paul Casey as his captain's picks for the European Ryder Cup team on Sunday, rounding out his 12-man team.

  Faldo announced his selections following the last round of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

  Poulter and Casey were leading contenders for the final two spots, though their cases for being on the team were thought to be hurt after both missed the 36-hole cut Saturday at the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship.

  The two Englishman took a chance playing stateside this week instead of with some of the other contenders who played the European Tour.

  They joined a team that already included Ryder Cup veterans Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez and newcomers Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson -- who all earned automatic berths.

  Faldo's selection of Poulter and Casey means Ryder Cup veterans Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke were left off the team. Montgomerie compiled a 20-9-7 record playing in every Ryder Cup since 1991, while Clarke had made every team since 1997.

  Despite Montgomerie's advantage in experience -- he's also an eight-time Order of Merit champion on the European Tour -- Clarke had perhaps the better case. Usually a staple playing alongside Westwood, Clarke has had a career resurgence with two wins this season, including last week's KLM Open.

  "I have to pick two picks," said Faldo, who left a voicemail for Montgomerie and spoke on the phone with Clarke. "Now we're discussing all the ones who missed, rather that the ones who made it." The 37th Ryder Cup will be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from Sept. 19-21.

  The Europeans have won three straight Ryder Cups -- including the last two by record 18 1/2 - 9 1/2 margins -- and five of the last six overall. But they're still not sure who all of their opponents will be this time around.

  The final four members of the United States team will be selected by captain Paul Azinger following the Deutsche Bank, which ends on Monday. Azinger lobbied for two extra picks and to have the date of his selections pushed back in hopes of getting the hottest players heading into the biennial matches.

  Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Boo Weekley and Ben Curtis locked up the eight automatic berths based on their position in the points standings following the PGA Championship.

  Injured world No. 1 Tiger Woods will not play in the Ryder Cup after making five straight U.S. teams.

  08/31 13:34:08 ET