Ryder Cup 2016: Five rookies named as captain Darren Clarke ponders wildcard selection
Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick will get their first taste of the competition
AT LEAST five rookies will get their first taste of the Ryder Cup after the nine automatic European qualifiers were decided.
Captain Darren Clarke has three wildcard spots remaining ahead of the final qualifying event in Denmark next weekend.
Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick will all make their bow in the famous competition.
They will be joined by Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.
Europe are chasing a fourth win in a row over the USA.
With this year's contest taking place on American soil, Clarke is likely to plump for experience to help his young guns through.
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Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are all-but certain to make the final cut.
Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell will fight over one place and Scotland's Russell Knox and Thomas Pieters of Belgium will fight for the final spot.
Pieters needed to defend his Czech Masters title and Shane Lowry needed a top-four finish at Wyndham to stay in contention but neither were able.
Fitzpatrick, at 21 the youngest member of the teamm said: "It's a great opportunity, I've got my first one coming up and hopefully I can just keep pushing on my game and getting better."
He later Tweeted: "Two years ago I was sat watching the Ryder Cup at home with no status on tour...
"Two years later and I'm in the team! Cannot wait!"
