Jimenez defends Poulter's Ryder Cup selection

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CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Miguel Angel Jimenez has no complaints with Ian Poulter's selection for the Ryder Cup team.

European captain Nick Faldo chose Poulter and Paul Casey as wild card picks Sunday to fill out his 12-man team, overlooking Darren Clarke, who played in the last five Ryder Cups.

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Miguel Angel Jimenez will be the oldest member of Europe's Ryder Cup at age 44.

"I don't think Nick made any mistake to take Ian Poulter and Paul Casey. They are both in the top 30 in the world rankings," Jimenez said Wednesday on the eve of the European Masters. "Faldo has made his own decision, and I think he has made the right decision."

Jimenez is the tournament favorite after the late withdrawal of Clarke and Lee Westwood.

Westwood withdrew on Monday with tonsillitis, while Clarke pulled out on Sunday after Faldo failed to pick him.

At age 44, Jimenez is the oldest member of the Ryder Cup team -- and the only one to be playing in the Swiss mountain setting of Crans-sur-Sierre. The tournament, which Jimenez is competing in for the 20th straight year, has been overshadowed by the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

After three weeks off, Jimenez said he's using the tournament to prepare for the Ryder Cup, which will be played from Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

Australian Brett Rumford is defending the title, which he won in a playoff over Philip Archer last year by chipping in at the first extra hole.

The victory gave Rumford a stepping stone to the PGA TOUR, where he survived qualifying school but has struggled to make the adjustment.

He tied for eighth in his first TOUR event, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic but has missed cuts in 11 of his 19 events.