Matt Wallace on being denied Ryder Cup wildcard: "Watch this space"
Wallace reveals his disappointment at not receiving one of Thomas Bjorn's four wildcard picks.
Matt Wallace has revealed he is going to use being denied a European Ryder Cup wildcard pick as the "fire to get better."
With five rookies already in the team, European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn opted for experience with Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson as his quarter of picks.
Wallace was the name top of many people's lists for a pick after landing a fourth European Tour title in 15 months and a third of the season when making eight birdies in his last 10 holes to win the Made in Denmark in extra holes last Sunday.
REVEALED! EUROPEAN TOUR WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT REACTS TO WILDCARDS!
"I got the call from Thomas on Tuesday afternoon and he called me up and said how impressed he was and how well I'd been playing," Wallace told Sky Sports Golf's Robert Lee after posting a 2-under 68 at the European Masters on Thursday morning.
"He was very complimentary of my game and my mindset, but ultimately he said 'it's not good news'. I accept that and I respect his decision in that he's gone for experience, which I believe they probably need as well.
"I'm obviously disappointed. It was my goal and my dream to make the team. I thought I'd showed enough on the Sunday in Denmark in front of him to get picked.
"I fully back Europe to give the Americans a good go. Hopefully I can be out there to watch it and help out maybe."
Wallace's rise up the ranks to just outside the world's top 50 in something of a miracle, given just three years ago he was winning six times in one season on the Alps Tour - the Tour set even below the Challenge Tour.
While the Ryder Cup dream is over for 2018, Wallace is already setting his sights on Whistling Straits in 2020.
"I've had a lot of disappointments in my career playing golf, but I've always used it as fire to get better," said Wallace.
"This is the biggest one you can have. All I'd say is watch this space now."
RELATED: PEPPERELL AND PAISLEY TWEET HILARIOUS POSTS ABOUT MISSING RYDER CUP
Wallace was playing alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters on day one of the European Masters, two other players who were in the shake up for a wildcard pick.
Pieters, who went one better than Wallace with a 67 on Thursday, summed things up as nicely as he could on the matter: "Yeah we felt a bit like the rejects out there today."
