Clarke and Harrington set for wild card row

Darren Clarke is backing Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie in his quest for three wild cards next year.

But that will put them on a collision course with triple major winner Padraig Harrington, who is dead set against changing the current system that gives the captain just two picks.

The issue will be hotly debated by the Tournament Players' Committee at Baltray next Tuesday with Clarke set to give the move the thumbs up.

Clarke said: “I will be voting for three picks and I also will vote that we take one place off the World Points table.

"We should leave the European table alone as that reflects commitment to the European Race to Dubai list. Then Monty would still have the opportunity to pick three players he wants.”

Harrington was disappointed that Europe lost to the US at Valhalla last September but doesn’t want the two-pick system to be changed, insisting: “I think our system has produced a winning team more times than not and I think we should stick it.

“Two picks gives enough places for the guys on the World Rankings and for the guys on the European Money List to qualify for the team. I think the system has been excellent.

“It has been proved that the guys who qualify by right, especially the guy who is last in, have always played well at the Ryder Cup. I would actually be really against it being changed.”

US skipper Paul Azinger went from two to four wildcards for the matches in Valhalla, where the USA ended their nine-year victory drought with a five-point win.