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Tearful Casey wishes Ryder Cup team well

Paul Casey shows his displeasure on the fairway © Getty Images

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Paul Casey fought to hold back his emotions as he described the moment he knew he had not made the 2010 Ryder Cup team, admitting he feared the worst as soon as Padraig Harrington got the thumbs-up from his wife.

Casey is good friends with Harrington, and he revealed the lack of a gesture in his direction told him all that he needed to know. Despite moving up to No. 8 in the world, Casey joined Justin Rose in being left out of Colin Montgomerie's 12-man team, with Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari the fortunate trio to be handed wildcards.

"I saw Caroline gave Ronan [Flood - Harrington's caddie] the thumbs-up on the seventh hole and then it went fairly quiet," said Casey. "I figured that was it. Caroline's a great friend - she would have said something to me if I had been picked, so at that point I kind of knew that I hadn't.

"I probably need time to take it in. Simple fact is I'm not on the team. But I think Europe have got an unbelievable team and I wish them the best for the match, simple as that."

Casey is currently ranked 11 places ahead of Harrington in the world standings, and he finished six shots ahead of him at the Barclays on Sunday. However, with three majors to his name, Harrington got the nod, and Casey revealed he had few complaints.

"I'm not going to stand here and sort of plead a case for why I should be on the team. It's done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn't make it. I wasn't picked. I didn't qualify automatically. I wish I had. Being injured last year really hurt my ability to qualify automatically, but I'll be supporting them in the match."

Rose also expressed his sadness at not making the 12-man team, and the Brit blamed his own performances for not making Montgomerie's life simpler.

"I only have myself to blame," said Rose. "I'm very disappointed. I figured I had as good a shot as anybody. For Paul Casey not to be in as well I think was a very interesting selection. I don't think many people would have got those three.

"Unfortunately two of us were going to be left out, but that's ultimately our own fault. If you put yourself in that precarious position of looking for a wild card this is what happens. I've got a three out of four record and a great ready-made partner (Ian Poulter) in the team. I thought those sorts of things would be positives in the pros and cons columns, so I'm disappointed not to be able to renew that partnership."

Harrington's main emotion seemed to be relief after Montgomerie stuck by his long-term friend, but he confessed he is unlikely to ever put himself in such a situation again after he spent the majority of the calendar missing European Tour events.

"There's no doubt myself and Paul, Justin and Luke didn't play enough in Europe to make it on the team automatically," Harrington said.

World Rankings: 1. Tiger Woods (USA), 2. Phil Mickelson (USA), 3. Lee Westwood (Eng), 4. Steve Stricker (USA), 5. Martin Kaymer (GER), 6. Jim Furyk (USA), 7. Rory McIlroy (NI), 8. Paul Casey (Eng), 9. Ernie Els (RSA), 10. Matt Kuchar (USA), 11. Luke Donald (Eng), 12. Ian Poulter (Eng), 13. Hunter Mahan (USA), 14. Graeme McDowell (NI),15. Edoardo Molinari (Ita), 16. Anthony Kim (USA), 17. Zach Johnson (USA), 18. Retief Goosen (RSA), 19. Padraig Harrington (IRE), 20. Robert Allenby (Aus)

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