Woosnam gambles on Clarke

Ian Woosnam has taken the calculated gamble that Darren Clarke will be able to cope with the emotion of a Ryder Cup in Ireland being staged just six weeks after the death of his wife, as he and close friend Lee Westwood were named as Europe's two wild cards.

Westwood's 28th place in the final counting event, the BMW International Open, came too late to make him one of the 10 automatic qualifiers. But having climbed off his sickbed to compete in Munich his gritty display helped make him Woosnam's choice ahead of Thomas Bjorn, who before the decision admitted he would be "devastated" to miss out.

With Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley already on the side Clarke's inclusion means that, as in 2002 and 2004, a quarter of the European line-up will be Irish. What makes it extra special this time, though, is that the match is being held on Irish soil for the first time - at the K Club west of Dublin on September 22-24.