European captain Darren Clarke named his three wild cards ahead of the 41st Ryder Cup on Tuesday (30th August), experienced campaigners Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, plus the in-form 24 year-old Belgian, Thomas Pieters.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Darren Clarke, European Ryder Cup Captain:

(announcing his three captain's picks for the European Ryder Cup team)

"My first wild card is Lee Westwood. My second wild card is Martin Kaymer. And my third wild card is Thomas Pieters."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Darren Clarke, European Ryder Cup Captain:

(on Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters)

"In Lee Westwood, I've got one of the most experienced 'Ryder Cuppers' of all time. This will be his tenth appearance. He's played well this year, runner-up at Augusta (at the Masters), was playing well at the US Open again, another solid Open performance, but week in, week out, he's been very, very solid. Martin Kaymer, six top tens in his recent events, again, another somewhat of a Ryder Cup stalwart. None of us can forget the putt that he holed at Medina a few years ago, but again, a man I have a massive amount of trust and belief in, and Thomas Pieters. Last week I played with him, again, as I've done many times over the qualification period and obviously, when we teed up on Thursday morning, Thomas knew exactly why I was playing with him. Prior to that there were a few other contenders that I was thinking about as welll but Thomas went out and played some unbelievable shots - a 62, one of the finest 62s I've ever witnessed and (he) made it look very easy. And then on top of that, he finished in the manner and style that he did on Sunday to win the tournament, so you know, I'm really pleased and proud to have someone of Thomas Pieters' talent, undoubted talent, part of the team."