London: Europe captain Darren Clarke has allayed fears over the fitness of British Open champion Henrik Stenson ahead of next month’s Ryder Cup defence at Hazeltine, Minnesota.
The Swede, who had surgery on his right knee at the end of last year, suffered a recurrence this week and was forced to pull out of The Barclays FedExCup series event in New York after shooting a three-over 74 in the opening round.
Clarke, however, said on Friday that the world No. 4 was simply being careful by withdrawing from the tournament.
“I’ve just had a message from Henrik and he said it was solely precautionary,” the Northern Irishman told Sky Sports television.
“I messaged him back telling him that was the best news I’ll hear all day. I think he’s just being careful.
“The Ryder Cup means so much to him and I think he’s just making sure he can play the rest of the FedEx and also make sure he’s fit for the Ryder Cup.” Stenson won the first major of his career at Troon in July and followed up by taking the silver medal behind Ryder Cup team mate Justin Rose at this month’s Rio Olympics.
The Ryder Cup matches against the United States will be held from Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
In New York, Patrick Reed edged into a two-shot lead at The Barclays Championship on Friday, firing a three-under-par 68 to take a slender advantage into the weekend action.
World number 14 Reed had looked to be on course to take a bigger lead over the chasing pack but two bogeys in the final three holes at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale jolted his momentum.
Reed was left ruing what could be costly dropped shots over the closing stages of a mostly polished round.
“(Those) are my two mental mistakes where I went away from my game plan, cost me two shots,” Reed said.
“I just need to get back to playing on the game plan. I did it perfectly for 18 holes yesterday.”
Overnight leader Reed had earlier started in blistering form, opening with back-to-back birdies to quickly move to seven under for the tournament.
Two more birdies on the fourth and seventh left him at nine under before a bogey at the par-three eighth pegged him back.
Reed steadied the ship with three straight pars followed by a birdie on 13, followed by two more pars.
A missed five-footer on the 16th led to a bogey before a brilliant tee-shot on the par-three 17th left him inches for the hole for a simple birdie.
But a wayward approach on the 18th found a bunker and Reed’s recovery left him with a 24-footer to save par, which came up short.
