Ryder Cup star comes out swinging after being picked over in-form rival

Shane Lowry has come out swinging forward of the Ryder Cup after European captain Luke Donald’s wildcard choices got here in for criticism. Former Open champion Lowry was not an automated qualifier for the European staff however acquired certainly one of Donald’s six captain’s picks that make up the staff of 12 who will try and regain the trophy from the United States in Rome later this month.

Lowry completed joint third eventually weekend’s Irish Open to file his first top-10 end since February. Poland’s Adrian Meronk was a shock omission from the European staff, regardless of successful three occasions this 12 months together with the Italian Open in May, which was staged on the Marco Simone course the place the Ryder Cup can be contested.

But the Irish world No. 32, who made his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits two years in the past, was in an unapologetic temper forward of his defence of the BMW PGA Championship this week.

He advised BBC Sport: “I know I deserve to be there. The people who knew what they were talking about know I deserve my place, so anyone else doesn’t really matter.”

Lowry completed eleventh on the European factors listing and eighth on the world factors listing however has been backed by Donald to shine in Italy.

Former world No. 1 Donald advised Sky Sports: “We know he [Lowry] is a big time player. He won an Open championship, WGCs, won at Wentworth, the list goes on. He turns up in those moments. There is nothing quite like a Ryder Cup, it’s one of the biggest moments. He is great in the team room as well.”

The stress is on the European staff to ship a robust efficiency on dwelling turf after they suffered the humiliation of a 19-9 landslide defeat in America final outing.

But in Rory McIlory, Jon Rahm and Victor Hovland, Donald’s aspect accommodates three of the highest four-ranked gamers on the earth. That trio was joined in automated qualification by Tyrrell Hatton, debutant Robert McIntyre and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Donald’s different wildcard decisions included massive names reminiscent of Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose in addition to Lowry. But he has additionally chosen three rookies within the type of this 12 months’s Open runner-up Sepp Strakka, Nicolai Hojgaard and rising star Ludvig Aberg, who solely turned skilled in May however has already received a DP World Tour title.

The 12 gamers visited the Marco Simone course final weekend, with Lowry calling it an “important” team-building session.

“It was brilliant,” he stated. “I had a great time. I don’t really know Ludvig, Nicolai or Sepp – I know them to say hello to – so even hanging out for half an hour can make a big difference because the week of the Ryder Cup is a bit manic.”