If Ian Poulter has a lock on a spot with Europe's Ryder Cup team, then somebody better tell Paul Casey.

Casey doesn't buy Nick Dougherty's assertion that Nick Faldo must have guaranteed Ian Poulter a place on Europe's Ryder Cup team.

Casey doesn't know who captain Faldo is likely to choose as his two wild-card picks, and nor does he think Poulter has any idea which way the captain is leaning to complete the squad that will take on the US at Valhalla next month.

Poulter made a late decision to pull out of this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles — his final chance to make the team automatically — to instead play in the United States at the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship.

That decision prompted Dougherty to say that he thought Faldo must have assured Poulter he would be on the Ryder Cup team.

"I've spoken to Ian and I don't buy that comment," said Casey, who himself is in the running for a captain's pick.

"I've heard nothing from Nick. I have not been given any indication which direction he's going with his picks. I have no clue what he's doing to do."

Casey, who also decided to stay in the United States rather than fly back to Europe for the final qualifying event, defended Poulter's decision.

"It's a difficult situation, because if he was playing Gleneagles this week, he would basically give up his chance of winning the FedEx Cup," Casey continued.

Casey and Poulter's hopes of both making the Ryder Cup team have been complicated by the return to form of Darren Clarke, who won the KLM Open on Sunday.

With Faldo scheduled to announce his two selections on Sunday, Casey and Poulter have only two rounds here to impress the captain, because the tournament does not start until Friday.

The Deutsche Bank is the second of four FedEx Cup PGA Tour playoff events. Due to the volatile nature of the standings, Casey last week vaulted from 90th to 38th in the standings.

The top 144 players were eligible to play last week, while this week's field has been trimmed to 120, with only 70 advancing to next week's event in St Louis.

Phil Mickelson, who will be counted on to lead the US team at Valhalla, is the defending champion.

AFP