Euro rookies in for 'rude' reception at Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy reckons the five confirmed European Team Ryder Cup rookies will be in for a "rude awakening" when they get to Hazeltine later next month for the Ryder Cup tournament.

It's not that the rookies will have anything to fear in tackling the host course in Minnesota. The big concern, according to McIlroy, will be coping with the partisan American crowds at the three-day biennial showdown.

Darren Clarke's team include two current Major winners in Masters champion Danny Willett and Royal Troon winning hero Henrik Stenson.

However, they have five rookies headed by Willett, along with fellow Englishman Chris Wood, Danny Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick, plus Spain's in-form Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

Clarke still has three wildcard picks to announce next Tuesday - likely to be either Scotland's Russell Knox, along with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer or the Irish pair of Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry. - AFP.