Darren Clarke: Europe can handle Hazeltine Ryder Cup pressure

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is confident his players will be able to handle the partisan atmosphere when Europe defend the trophy against a USA team which will be “baying for blood”.

Clarke expects a positive atmosphere at Hazeltine next year, despite two of his prospective team — Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter — recently being heckled at the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Speaking after announcing there would be no changes to the Ryder Cup qualifying system, Clarke said: “It’s always part and parcel. Home advantage is huge and it’s part and parcel of the Ryder Cup. But I think the likes of Sergio or Poults have been on the tour too long to let something like that affect them.”