Golf World

European Rder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has selected Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari as his wildcard picks.

Italian Molinari, 29, won the Johnnie Walker Championship on Sunday to impress Montgomerie and earn his spot ahead of Paul Casey and Justin Rose.

Molinari joins brother Francesco, an automatic qualifier, on the team. Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez sealed the last two qualifying places after finishing well at Gleneagles.

Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari occupied the top seven places in the Ryder Cup rankings to also qualify automatically.

Five of the team - McIlroy, Kaymer, Fisher, Hanson and both Molinaris - will all be making their Ryder Cup debuts at Celtic Manor from 1-3 October.

Montgomerie claimed Molinari "probably didn't need to win" in Perthshire to earn a pick, however, he heaped lavish praise on the 2009 World Cup winner after he birdied his last three holes to snatch a one-shot victory from Australian Brett Rumford.

"In my time as a player on the European Tour, and I've been a member for 24 years, I don't think I've seen a finish of that quality under pressure by anyone anywhere," said Montgomerie. "I think what he did today was, literally, incredible and he is the type of player we need to regain the Ryder Cup from America."

The Molinaris, who won the World Cup together in China last year, will become the first siblings to play in the Ryder Cup since Bernard and Geoff Hunt played for Britain in their 1963 defeat against the USA. "It's a delight that we have two thrilling players coming from an emerging country like Italy and it's no secret as to who will be partnering each other at Celtic Manor,"

Montgomerie said. Edoardo Molinari, who was playing on Europe's second-tier Challenge Tour last season, said: "I would have been happy a year ago to have enough money to keep my card by this time. "Colin told me he was proud of what I had done and I said 'thank you very much and I can't wait to get to Wales.' "It was quite an emotional moment for me because this means I will be playing with my brother and that is something that is almost unreal."

Edoardo's inclusion was bad news for Englishmen Casey and Rose, both competing in the final round of The Barclays, the first event of the four-round FedEx Cup, in New Jersey. Montgomerie revealed he had informed Rose, a two-time winner on the US Tour this season, of his decision as he prepared on the range ahead of his final round in New Jersey. Rose will, though, be selected if Westwood fails to recover from an ongoing calf injury.

Montgomerie admitted he felt sorry for world number nine Casey and Rose, a two-time winner in the US this year, but said Europe "had an embarrassment of riches on this occasion".

"Padraig has won three majors in the past two years, he has great stature in the game and when his back is up against the wall he comes out and gives tremendous," said Montgomerie.

"He is someone we felt that nobody in matchplay golf wants to play. He's a great competitor.

"In Luke Donald we have someone who can compete in foursomes and fourball golf, and has played seven Ryder Cup games and only lost once."

Dubliner Harrington, who has not won a game in the last two Ryder Cups and not won a Tour title since the USPGA Championship in 2008, said: "It was obviously experience as the team is a young team. I won't normally play the age card, but this time it obviously suits me.

"It's tough on the two boys and it was an odd occasion. On one hand I'm happy for myself, but I did genuinely feel sorry for Paul.