Snubbed Knox admits Ryder Cup will be hard to watch
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[August 31, 2016]
(Reuters) - Russell Knox has
said watching the Ryder Cup will be a bittersweet experience after
the Scot was overlooked by Europe captain Darren Clarke despite
being the highest-ranked player outside of the nine automatic
qualifying spots.
Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, and the in-form
Thomas Pieters were selected as wildcards ahead of world number 20
Knox on Tuesday as Clarke confirmed his 12-man team to defend the
trophy against the United States in Minnesota.
Clarke admitted that leaving Knox out of the three-day event
starting on Sept. 30 in Hazeltine "was probably one of the toughest
calls" he had to make.
"It's going to be difficult for me to watch the Ryder Cup but I
probably will and I'll be rooting for the team of course. I wish
them all the best and hope they win," Knox told British media.
"Of course, I feel like I deserve to be there and should be playing
but I'm not, so I have to respect the decision that's been made,"
added the Scot, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai
last November.
"Every year, there's a guy in my position that doesn't get picked
and it's a story right now, but in a couple of week's time when it
all starts, I'm sure it'll be forgotten that I'm not in the team."
Knox, however, hoped to use the disappointment of missing out to his
advantage in the FedEx Cup with the 31-year-old currently sitting
seventh in the standings ahead of the last three events.
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Russell Knox in action during the third round Action Images via
Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
"It's certainly motivated me for the next three weeks, that's for
sure. I have to use this as a springboard to try and win the FedEx
Cup," he said.
"I've never wanted to prove someone wrong so badly in my life, I
think. It's not sour grapes or anything. Darren had an extremely
difficult decision and all of those three guys were worthy of a
pick."
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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