Ok,

Here's a quick poll, to get us started on the run-in for the European team, with the last qualifying event this week at Gleneagles.
The current team are shown here, pre Gleneagles.

1. (1) Padraig Harrington - Ireland - 4 caps
2. (4) Sergio Garcia - Spain - 4 caps
3. (2) Lee Westwood - England - 5 caps
4. (3) Henrik Stenson - Sweden - 1 cap
5. (5) Robert Karlsson - Sweden - 1 cap
6. (6) Miguel Angel Jimenez - Spain - 2 caps
7. (7) Graeme McDowell - Northern Ireland - 0 caps
8. (8) Justin Rose - England - 0 caps
9. (10) Soren Hansen - Denmark - 0 caps
10. (9) Oliver Wilson - England - 0 caps

I've added poll choices from the next 10 in the list, whom are currently reliant upon picks from Faldo to secure a widlcard place in the team.

Please place your vote and then add reasons why in your response. Let see if the membership can predict whom Nick may choose. This could all change as we know dependant upon the last qualifying event this Sunday.

My picks would be:
- Darren Clarke, back on form, swinging the club well and has found a warm putter
- Paul Casey, currently in form after early season dip, solid matchplay player.

As a german I do have to give my nod to Kaymer, of course. After all he won already twice this year and finished one shot behind Tiger in Dubai AND he's currently the no. 11 player on the list. After the death of his mother he is in a slump of sorts though.

Going purely on current form, it's gotta be Darren Clarke for one and probably Paul Casey who's rounding back into form just at the right time to be considered. Outside chances for Poulter and Dougherty, based on a good performance this week.

ian poulter has the competitive edge and the arrogance needed for match play.
Darren clarke may have just got the win he needed to bring back the confidence he lost.
Paul Casey solid at matchplay and can rise to the occasion.
Kaymer has proved himself on numerous occasions.
Good luck nick but please do not pick monty!

I voted for Casey and Clarke but I'd me more than happy with Fisher, Kaymer, Poulter and possibly even Monty off that list.

DC has been a big part of the European setup for the last few years and his potential partnership with Westwood may well be the reason he gets the nod from Mr Faldo.

Casey just edges above the rest as a match-player but as I say, I've no doubt that Poulter, Fisher and Kaymer would do a fine job given if they were given the responsibility.

Many have said that this is a difficult choice for Faldo. I disagree. I can't recall any captain having the luxury of choosing from 5 or 6 outstanding players. They all have a hunger to make the team and although the one's that don't make it will be upset, we can be safe in the knowledge that the two who are chosen will do a great job.

Only a few weeks to go. I can't wait!

Darren for starters. He is needed in the team, he always seems to me like the one every player gets along with on the team. I believe he plays a huge factor in making the team a real team. Besides all that, he played great at the KLM last week, showed he is in perfect shape and with a fresh win the attitude has got to be there.

My second pick would be Casey. He seems to perform much better in a team than he does by himself, which after all he isn't that bad at either. He's shown good form for a while, but no wins. But i think this will be a no-brainer for Faldo.

I would have loved to have seen Kaymer in there, but i don't think his mind is there right now. He'll be in plenty Ryder Cup teams in the future though, i'm sure.

I just hope he picks the players primarily for their role in the team. They've all shown to be in good form, otherwise they wouldn't be considered wild card picks.

However, i DON'T like the fact that Faldo is saying those things on TV he did last weekend. I think his place is on the events where his players are competing. As a matter of fact i believe this is one of the main reasons why Poulter will be playing in the US this week and not at Gleneagles.

I think the Ryder Cup is going to be a lot closer this year and for that reason he has to go for Clarke and Casey, in form and with Ryder Cup experience. I think Monty could wave goodbye to a wildcard pick as soon as Darren Clarke hit form, he doesn't have the same record or reputation as Monty does with the Ryder Cup, but he still has the passion, experience, ability under pressure and some of the talisman qualities, plus he's playing well.

I like Oliver Wilson as a player but for this year I'd prefer Kaymer to make the team becasue Wilson doesn't have a tournament win yet and I think Kaymer will therefore perform better under the pressur eof a Ryder Cup. Also Ross Fisher has a big future ahead of him and many Ryder Cups so the more experience he can get the better, nothiong against Soren Hansen, but i'd prefer to have Fisher in the team. I don't think any of those four can rely on a pick though, they'll have to qualify if they're going to make it.

Montgomerie and Clarke. Two stalwarts. How can you go to a Ryder Cup and NOT bring Montgomerie?

Clarke and Monty are my Choise - The know how to play on the others mistakes, and there are strong players, there can support the news players.

That's why i believe it's time to pick Casey instead of Monty. He does have all the experience, but seriously, the man hasn't been performing well at all lately. His form could be a huge risk.
Casey is playing good, and has more than enough experience; 2 ryder cup caps and 4 seve trophy caps, all winning teams. And let's not forget, Casey plays most of his golf in the US.

As a USA guy, I didn't pick Clarke or Monty, because Europe is
already too strong.

I voted Poulter and Kaymer:

1. Poulter is a veteran Cupper and has shown in big pressure (majors) the ability to play well this year.
2. Kaymer, young player who has been the best of the young Euro Tour guys not yet on a Cup team. Seems to me like this is a good place to get experience for him and still be competive player in a Cup match.

Nick Price will not be picking his European Ryder Cup Team because he's not the captain, he's not even European. Lolz. I know, I know the original poster meant Nick Faldo. Just busting your chops.

Oopz~!~! Read the topic title wrong. . Sheesh I need to be hooked on phonics. .

Although im German i'd pick Clarke and perhaps Poulter.
Both show a rather good performance, Martin Kaymer will eventually have to wait another year. Im sure he can improve
his performance.

Monty is getting older, and his game is not as good as it once was. Does he have to fail in a ryder cup before he is dropped? I woudl assume given the tension between faldo and monty that tv is as close as monty will get until he is the captain in 2012.

I also voted for Clarke. I like that he is winning, and trying to SEIZE a spot on the team. I voted for casey because I like his style, and his no holds barred approach.

I think the euros will have a very solid team this year, and I am eagerly awaiting the contest.

I posted in another thread a couple of weeks back that my picks would be Clarke and Paul Casey.

Clarke obviously now has a stronger case for inclusion after last weeks win, but my take is that he's a man for the occasion, a bit of a standard bearer for the team and is well capable of forging a productive partnership with his old mate Westwood in the foursomes/fouball play. He's proven to be a man for the occasion and I think a team would be worse off without him in it.

Casey is one of the most solid European players and has a good record in the event. He's played consistently solid golf all season, and his game is well-suited to matchplay golf, in both foursomes and fourball play. He's comfortable in the U.S. and will be an asset to the team.

I'm still happy with my choices, but I have a suspicion Faldo will be looking to pick Poulter. Barring any last minute changes in the exempt players, I reckon he'll tip him the nod at the cost of one of the above two. Or someone else.

Hi Mat,
A well worded and thought out response as always. Your thoughts are in line with my original post.

I sincerely hope that Faldo has not given Mr. P the nod already. I don't believe his record in the US is equivalent to Casey or Clarke, but I'd be happy to be corrected.

I voted for Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter.
Darren Clarke.... Do I really have to explain? The possibility of being teamed with Lee Westwood, his emotional impact on the team, the fact that he is a streaky player and won last week.
Ian Poulter because he is controversial and cocky enough for the event, plus he can always hole putts from a long way, which can give you a tremendous psychological advantage in match play. He is sort of "The thing that won't go away".
But it is very hard to decide between Poulter and Paul Casey. I always thought that Casey would be the next great European player, always contending in Majors and making a real impact. He was really cold for most of this season and just found his form lately. Plus, he also knows how to antagonize the Americans . It would also be great to have him on the team.
Monty? Sorry, but not anymore. History and that Ryder Cup aura around him just aren't enough to convince me (and I am about his age). If he had shown any signs of real form lately, I would be all for him, but under the current circumstances: No.

I'd agree with those comments about Montgomerie. He's got a tremendous record and an enviable Ryder Cup history, but the fact of the matter is he hasn't shown even a semblance of form recently. I know there's the argument that 'he'll raise his game come September' and it's a fair one to make, with some precedent, but I honestly think that if the old flame was still burning we'd have seen at least some type of inspired form in the qualifying (or consideration) period - and we haven't. It's a great shame, as I think a resurgent Monty would have been a key part of the camapign, but the simple fact is there are players more deserving of a place and I asume they'll get them.

Of the other players, I'm a great admirer of Martin Kaymer and I think he'll go on to great success in the game, but I don't see a fully polished player yet or one that's perhaps worthy of a Ryder Cup place. I think he'll go on to play in a few of them, and do well, but I don't see 2008 being his debut, sadly.

Ross Fisher is another tremendous prospect. I've had the privilege of playing with Ross and he's one of the most impressive ballstrikers I've ever seen and capable of making stunning golf look very easy. Again, I'm not sure that the experience matches the raw talent yet, and although I expect him to go on to great things, I think he'll miss out this year.

I'm no great fan of Ian Poulter (albeit I admire him in some ways) but for me he hasn't played consistent golf this season. Yes, he had a fine finish at Birkdale, but aside from that there hasn't been a lot of consistent and solid golf in recent memory. Contary to some opinions, I don't see cockiness and brashness as necessarily being a prerquisite to playing good matchplay golf. Faldo, Montgomerie and Langer have all accrued enviable points tallies and winning records in the Ryder Cup without a load of razmatazz by just knuckling down and doing what needed to be done on the day. I don't think a pair of silly trousers, some wraparound shades and an artistically shaped beard and sideburns set are going to strike fear into many of the American team if I'm honest. Ultimately, he's got a claim to be on the team given his placing in the game's hierarchy (not yet at that #2 spot though Ian) but I'd be giving him a week off if I were in Faldo's shoes.

My votes go to Darren Clarke and Paul Casey.

Darren has been in this event many times and is a steady performer. His game seems to be coming along at the right time. When he gets paired with Westwood in the team events it usually is trouble for the Americans. I think this pick is guaranteed to happen.

The other pick is between Paul Casey and Ian Poulter in my opinion. I chose Casey as he seems to have been a little steadier this year. Poulter seems to be a very streaky and right now just doesn't seem to be the right time for him.

Although I like Monty and would love to see him play I think he is to big of a question mark. You could possibly get the Monty that has one all those matches or you could get the one who shot an 84 in the second round of the PGA. If the event was in Europe I would probably choose to put him in one last time but since it is in the states I don't see him making the team. My guess is we have seen the last of Monty at the Ryder Cup until he is captain.

Fellow NC State alum Carl Pettersson

What about Daniel Chopra??? Not even considered...

I would go with Clarke and Casey.

Chopra is currently ranked 92 in the world ... Even Monty is ranked higher

anyone is better than miserable monty Montgomerie.

Yes, he has been fantastic over the years ..... but he is finished, totally and utterly a player of bygone years.

Shame you haven't got Pettesen listed for my choice with Casey..... Clarke may well finish in place for an automatic place.

Casey and Clarke. Both playing well with experience.

My Picks are Clarke and Casey

Reason is clear with 4 rookies in the team you go for two experienced players.

Nice balance old and new.

brooky333

I'm not 100% sure, but i believe that is mathematically impossible.