Wildcard pick Donald questions Ryder Cup qualifying system

PARAMUS, New Jersey (Reuters) - Ryder Cup wildcard pick Luke Donald questioned the qualifying process after fellow Britons Paul Casey and Justin Rose missed out on selection on Sunday.

Donald, Ireland's triple major winner Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari of Italy were earlier selected by Europe's captain Colin Montgomerie as wildcard choices.

Harrington, Donald, Rose and Casey took a risk this week by choosing to play in the Barclays tournament here, rather than travelling to Scotland for the final Ryder Cup points-counting event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.

"I feel bad for the guys who didn't make it. I feel bad for Paul and Justin had a good chance too," said world number 10 Donald.

"The team has to look harder at the qualification system and whether it's the correct way to do it or whether there's a better way.

"Golf is really becoming a world game and I understand they want to protect the European Tour but at the same time, the top guys are going to want to play against the best players in the world no matter what and shouldn't be penalised for that."

Donald blazed through his front nine at Ridgewood Country Club in seven-under 28 after starting with six successive birdies.

After finding out he had made the team midway through the round, the Englishman carded five bogeys for a three-under 68 and a six-under total of 278.

"Obviously I'm delighted (to be in the team), it was very much up in the air," said Donald.

"It was probably one of the craziest selections for a Ryder Cup ever," he added, referring to the embarrassment of playing riches available to Montgomerie.

Casey is ranked ninth in the world and Rose is number 22.

Europe play the U.S. holders in the Ryder Cup in Wales from October 1-3.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)