Darren Clarke happy with Ryder Cup process

Newcastle: European Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke has stuck to a winning formula in announcing no changes to the 2016 European Team qualifying process.

Clarke confirmed he will stick with the victorious arrangement adopted by fellow Irishman Paul McGinley who steered Europe to a five point triumph last year at Gleneagles, Scotland.

It means the make-up of Clarke`s Oakland Hills 12-man team will come from the same two categories with four players again qualifying off a European points table, five from a World Points table and leaving Clarke with three wildcard picks.

"I gave the qualifying process a lot of thought, I looked at a lot of stats and I looked at a lot of comparisons from what teams would have been like had the qualifying process been slightly different in past years," he said to reporters.

"My overall feeling was given the team Paul (McGinley) had assembled at Gleneagles, and how successful they were, it would have been very foolish of me to try and make any changes to that system.

"So overall I am absolutely delighted we are going to have the same qualifying format and hopefully that will allow us to have the strongest possible team going to Oakland Hills later next year."

While the European points category protects the interest of the European Tour it will be the World Points category where the strength of Clarke`s team will come and from through those European-born players competing on the PGA Tour and earning points from the World Rankings.

"There is a reasons why it is what it is and I want to have a European team with the best possible chance of retaining the Ryder Cup," added Clarke.

However the 2016 Ryder Cup qualifying process will break new ground commencing with the September 3-6 Russian Open in Moscow and conclude customarily at the end of August 2016.

Clarke was speaking ahead of this week`s Irish Open at Royal County Down.

It is the first occasion the event has been staged on the course since 1939 and with Clarke excited at the prospect of adding a first Irish Open title to his 2011 Open Championship crown.

"It is very special to be staging the Irish Open here at Royal County Down and on one of the best links courses in the world," he said.

"I played this morning and the golf course is playing very fast, and it`s going to be a really, really tough challenge.

"It also will be a slightly different challenge as there are a few blind tee shots but then that is what makes Royal County Down so special.

"This is my 25th Irish Open and while I won an Irish Amateur so long ago I can`t remember the year, it would be great to end my career with at least one Irish Open success."