Darren Clarke has come to the defence of Sergio Garcia following Sir Nick Faldo’s claim that the Spaniard was “useless” at the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Faldo, captain of the European team that lost at Valhalla that year, was commentating for the Golf Channel when he said Garcia’s performance in 2008 had been “useless” and Garcia had a bad attitude.
Faldo later took a step back, admitting his comments had been harsh and slightly ill-judged, but a number of those involved with the European side at this year’s Ryder Cup came to Garcia’s defence.
Darren Clarke, five times player and two times vice-captain at the Ryder Cup, said on Sky Sports: "I think it was a very harsh comment from Nick Faldo.
"When you go into a team room as captain or player it would be very difficult to find a more passionate person than Sergio Garcia. Like Ian Poulter, he lives and breathes for the Ryder Cup. He's a very proud man.
"We all have off days in the Ryder Cup. That's what happens and nobody plays great all the time. Maybe he did have a bad day but it was a harsh comment."
Garcia and Rory McIlroy partnered yesterday and lost their opening four ball match against Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, but battled back from two down with two to play to halve their foursome match in the afternoon against Jimmy Walker and Ricky Fowler.
Graeme McDowell also responded to Nick Faldo’s comments, highlighting that Faldo had dropped Garcia, along with Lee Westwood, in 2008, on the way to a defeat for Europe.
“You've got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday afternoon of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose. I'd say Sergio was fairly useless that afternoon, yeah. Because he wasn't able to play. So – I agree!", McDowell said.
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