Luke Donald Likely to Miss Ryder Cup

Luke Donald is likely to miss the Ryder Cup because of a wrist injury according to the European team captain Nick Faldo.

Donald withdrew from this week's Open Championship on Sunday after injuring his left wrist during the US Open last month, but he was hopeful of recovering in time to have a chance of making Faldo's team for the match in Kentucky, starting on September 19.

Donald had initially set his rehabilitation at three to four weeks, but having received the latest medical bulletin Faldo is doubtful that the English player will be fit in time to be considered for selection.

"Unfortunately Luke is trying to rehabilitate this wrist injury of his as quickly as possible but it doesn't look too good," Faldo said. "To try and rush a wrist injury is hard, you can't rush a wrist injury, plus the fact he's outside the team right now makes it hard."

Donald is currently outside the top 10 players eligible for an automatic place, and even if his wrist heals in time for him to resume playing he is unlikely to have time to win automatic selection.

Faldo is likely to place a premium on form when he selects his two wild cards, and with Donald facing limited opportunities to prove himself his chance of playing in a third successive Ryder Cup appear slim.

Donald's absence from the team will be a blow to European hopes of retaining the trophy against the United States. He was a key member of the 2004 team that won by a record margin in the US, and the one that retained it in 2006 at the K-Club.

His consistency from tee to green as well as his familiarity and generally good relations with the American galleries will be missed.