Stricken Stricker won't play in Ryder Cup

Stricker is still expected to don Ryder Cup golf clothing at Gleneagles next month as an assistant, but Watson had been considering giving him a wild card place after he finished seventh in the US PGA Championship.

Like Tiger Woods, Stricker has made the decision to pull out of all competitions until December to recover from injury. Both have back problems but Stricker is also struggling with his hip.

Watson will also be without Dustin Johnson who is taking a break to deal with "personal challenges" and although Matt Kuchar has qualified, he is also nursing a back problem. Last year's US PGA champion Jason Duffner pulled out of this year's tournament on the 10th hole of his first round complaining of neck pain and is no longer among the automatic qualifiers.

Watson will select his three wild card picks on September 2 and they will join Kuchar, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Speith, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson on the team.

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