McIlroy: Ryder rookie Fowler deserved pick

RORY McILROY believes fellow young gun Rickie Fowler earned his Ryder Cup captain’s pick after winning the respect of American veterans on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy, 21, will face Fowler, five months his senior, at Celtic Manor on October 1-3 when Europe hosts the United States with American captain Corey Pavin making the Californian the first US wild card pick never to have won a professional tournament.

McIlroy, though, believes Fowler was a sound choice for Pavin to make.

“All the players seem to like Rickie,” McIlroy said as he prepared for this week’s BMW Championship in Chicago. “I know Phil Mickelson was pushing for him. When you have guys like that behind you, who want you on the team, it’s important.

“The thing about Rickie is that you can put him with anybody, and he’ll be great in the team room”

Over in Holland, meanwhile, European vice-captain’s Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke said they believed a European victory over a USA team including Fowler’s fellow pick Tiger Woods will be all the more enjoyable.

Pavin chose the volatile and uncertain surrounds of the New York Stock Exchange to announce Woods, Zack Johnson, Stewart Cink and rookie Fowler as his four picks.

While describing Fowler’s selection as a ‘calculated gamble’, McGinley is pleased Woods will be in Wales.

“As Europeans, we would have been delighted if Tiger wasn’t in the team,” said McGinley in Hilversum where he is competing in this week’s KLM Open. “But having said that it will be a stronger American side with Tiger present, and of course, it will be all that sweeter if we were to win.

“But the four players Corey chose were to be expected and Rickie Fowler will be a good addition.

“It is a calculated gamble that is worth taking. He’ll bring youthfulness, exuberance and excitement to their side.

“Even though Rickie hasn’t won, I also see a parallel between him and Rory (McIlroy) given the hair and the way they play the game. They don’t seem to have any fear whatsoever.”

Clarke has likened the choices facing Pavin to the scenario staring at Montgomerie recently at Gleneagles where he had to choose three players from a pool of some six to seven players.

“Monty said at Gleneagles in describing the European and so it is too that the Americans have a wealth of riches,” Clarke said. “And it’s good to see him pick Tiger because I could not imagine a Ryder Cup without the World No. 1.

“He’s the best player in the world and he’s starting to play better and I agree, you want to beat the American team with Woods in the side, and they’re a stronger team with him in it.”

Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who travelled to Valhalla in 2008 with the European Team, agreed with his vice-captains.

Kaymer had a bet with his brother on the picks and won the wager in selecting three of the four. “I agree with Colin (Montgomerie) that you want to see Tiger playing in the team,” Kaymer said. “Two years ago when Nick (Faldo) took me to Valhalla he wasn’t in the team but now that he is in the side, for myself it will be a sweeter victory, if we win, with Tiger in the team.”

Clarke contests the opening two rounds of this year’s KLM Open in the company of team member Francesco Molinari and former Ryder Cup star, Robert Karlsson.

McGinley will compete alongside former Open winner Todd Hamilton and reigning BMW PGA winner Simon Khan.

Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Simon Thornton will also be vying for the €300,000 first prize.