Record-tying sixth European rookie

Scotsman Russell Knox sits fourth on the FedExCup points list but may need a strong showing at The Barclays, which opens the lucrative PGA Tour playoffs this week, to join the European Ryder Cup team.

Knox has won twice this season and had a pair of runner-up finishes but landed outside the group of nine automatic qualifiers because his win at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China did not earn him Ryder Cup points as he was not a European Tour member at the time.

Should Knox make the European team, he would become the sixth Ryder Cup rookie on the team, tying a record set in 2010 when Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer were among the first-timers.

Kaymer and fellow Ryder veteran Lee Westwood are rated favourites as wild card selections, with Knox, Shane Lowry and the experienced Luke Donald among others in the running.

Ryder Cup veteran Henrik Stenson said he did not think the high number of rookies would hurt Europe.

“Even though there might be rookies on the Ryder Cup team, when you have someone that’s the current Masters champion (Danny Willett), you don’t really put them in the rookie category,” said British Open champion Stenson.