Team Europe Ryder Cup announcement as it happened: Thomas Bjorn picks Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey
Thomas Bjorn picks Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey
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Team Europe will look to reclaim the Ryder Cup after a humbling defeat two years ago at Hazeltine, with captain Thomas Bjorn putting the final plans into place after announcing his four wild card picks.
Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren and Thorbjorn Olesen have already secured their place on Bjorn's team for the competition, which begins on 28 September at Le Golf National in south-west Paris.
And completing that line-up will be Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter, former Open champion Henrik Stenson, 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia and in-form Paul Casey, with Bjorn announcing his wild cards earlier on Wednesday afternoon. However, as always that leaves the unlucky few ruing an opportunity missed, with the likes of Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Matt Wallace, Thomas Pieters and Matt Fitzpatrick all missing out.
US captain Jim Furyk handed Tiger Woods a wild card entry last night after he finished sixth in the Open and second in the PGA Championship to remove any lingering doubt about his place on the team, with Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau his two other picks - with one more to be confirmed next week. Follow the live announcement and the latest reaction below...
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Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of the team Europe's Ryder Cup announcement.
European captain Thomas Bjorn is expected to announce his four wildcard picks at 2pm (BST) and we will bring you all the live news and reaction.
Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy Alex Noren and Thorbjorn Olsen have already secured their place on Bjorn's team for the competition which begins on 28 September at Le Golf National in southwest Paris.
USA picks
Last night Tiger Woods admitted it was "beyond special" to be set for an eighth Ryder Cup appearance after being named as a wild card by US captain Jim Furyk.
Furyk sprung no surprises as he named Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Woods as his first three wild cards, the trio having finished ninth, 10th and 11th in qualifying respectively.
Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson were the eight automatic qualifiers for the USA team, and Furyk picked the three immediately below them in the qualification standings.
Woods, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson were Furyk's first three captains picks.
Who is in the running?
The likely pics
Ian Poulter - Dramatically qualified for The Masters but failed to get going at Augusta. Has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup on five occasions and won four, but only scored one point in 2014.
Sergio Garcia - Former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts says that Sergio Garcia deserves a place despite his shaky recent form. "I wouldn't say (he's in) in awful form but when you consider Sergio for a Ryder Cup team you have to look at CV, at heart. He has proven over the years he has been a main piece." The 34-year-old may not be the most popular pick after missing the cut in the last four majors.
Henrik Stenson - Despite dropping out of the world top 10, Stenson has finished in the top-six at both the Masters and the US Open this year.
Paul Casey - Available for selection again after making himself unavailable to qualify for the 2016 Ryder Cup by not being a member of the European Tour. Tipped Tiger Woods to win the Valspar Championship in March, his first PGA Tour win in nine years.
The case for Matt Wallace
After winning the Made in Denmark tournament on Sunday, the final event before the Ryder Cup selection, Matt Wallace said his performance was a statement of intent.
Wallace birdied the second playoff hole to claim the title and push him into Thomas Bjorn's thoughts.
"I've stepped up to the mark and I've shown him exactly what I'm about," Wallace said.
"If he doesn't pick me, then that's absolutely fine but if he does, he knows he's going to get exactly that in his team."
Anyone know how Phil Mickelson is feeling? Hard to tell...
Nicolas Colsaerts on Sergio Garcia
"I wouldn't say (he's in) in awful form but when you consider Sergio for a Ryder Cup team you have to look at CV, at heart," Colsaerts, who was a member of the 2012 team who pulled off the miracle at Medinah, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"He has proven over the years he has been a main piece.
"He is always going to be in the books as a pick. He is always going to be one of the guys considered.
"I think you can compare it to if you ask a footballer what it is like to play in the Champions League: you don't have to be in top form that week, you can find it on the day because of the scene and the competitive team environment.
"That is not something we get very often as golfers but it is something which is kind of special."
Ten minutes
We will be hearing from Europe captain Thomas Bjorn in ten minutes. He will be giving a full press conference where he will explain his decisions as well as preview the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Does Russell Knox deserve a place?
33-year-old Scotsman won the Irish open earlier this year and put himself in with a chance of being an outside pick. "Welcome to the game," said European captain Thomas Bjorn.
Thomas Bjorn
"There's a lot of guys, its not been easy but on the other hand it is a privilege to have that many to chose from. And making choices is not all easy but it's been great."
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