Sweden's Carl Pettersson
concedes he has virtually no chance of making his Ryder Cup debut for Europe in
Ireland next month.
He needs to win this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational to get into the team
via the world ranking points list and has all but ruled out a late call-up as
one of European captain Ian Woosnam's two wildcard picks.
"I'd love to play and I'd love to get in on the points and not have to wait
on the captain's pick," the 28-year-old told reporters at Firestone Country Club
on Wednesday.
"We'll just have to wait and see. But it would be a surprise if I got a call
(as one of the two wildcard selections)."
Asked whether he had been consulted by Woosnam in the build-up to the team's
selection, Pettersson replied: "No I haven't heard from him.
"It doesn't really disappoint me but it surprises me a little bit. I would
have thought he would have called a few guys who were close to making it.
"But it's his choice. He's the captain and he needs to do what he thinks is
right."
IMPRESSIVE FORM
North Carolina-based Pettersson, who plays mainly on the PGA Tour, has
displayed impressive form in the U.S. this season.
He has produced six top-10s in 21 starts, including his second PGA Tour
victory at the prestigious Memorial tournament in early June.
"But I haven't done that much for the last three or four weeks, ever since
the British Open," Pettersson added.
The Swede tied for eighth in the British Open at Hoylake before missing the
cut in his next two European Tour events and also at last week's PGA
Championship.
"I'm just going to play and see what happens," he said. "If it happens, it
happens. If not, it's not end of the world."
Pettersson lies 10th in the European world points standings and has to win
this week if he is to dislodge Colin Montgomerie from fifth spot.
The leading five in the world points table automatically qualify for the
September 22-24 Ryder Cup, along with the leading five in the European points
standings, taken from the Tour's order of merit.
Woosnam will then add his two wildcard picks after next week's BMW
International Open in Munich to complete the 12-man team.
Britain's Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter and Denmark's Thomas
Bjorn are all in the frame for wildcard selection.
