Steve Stricker to miss Ryder Cup

Stricker has ruled himself out of playing in the Ryder Cup (©GettyImages).

United States vice-captain Steve Stricker has ruled himself out of playing at next month's Ryder Cup.

Stricker will still be involved as one of the vice-captain alongside skipper Tom Watson but his decision to take a break from competitive golf until December means that he won't be in contention for a wildcard pick.

The 47-year old will now work alongside Andy North and Ray Floyd to assist Watson in Gleneagles.

Favourites

Stricker had been one of the favourites to become one of Watson's wildcard picks after he finished seventh at the US PGA Championship earlier this month. But the 12-time tour winner has been struggling with back and hip injuries and revealed that he needs time to recover.

"Going to shut it down till December. Rest and rehab and then try to play and see how it goes," Stricker, who played at the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cups, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Headache

Stricker's unavailability gives Watson more selection headaches with Tiger Woods also withdrawing from selection with a back injury. While, Dustin Johnson is taking a break from the sport as he deals with unspecified personal problems.

Watson confirmed Stricker's injury on a blog and also admitted he was considering selecting him as a captain's pick.

"Our new vice-captain, Steve Stricker, is also battling through a hip injury," Watson wrote in a blog for the PGA of America.

"It's been a problem for a while now and I think it's the reason he's had a hard time stringing four rounds together this year until last week. He played great at Valhalla and tied for seventh.

"Steve actually called me on Thursday night. He asked if I was considering him for a captain's pick. I said, 'Absolutely, I am'."

Qualification

Matt Kuchar automatically qualified for a Ryder Cup place but there are injury concerns surrounding him after he withdrew from the US PGA Championship with a back injury. Jason Dufner was situated in an automatic selection place before his recent neck problem has seen him drop out of one but could still be available for a wildcard selection.

The nine players that have automatically qualified alongside Kuchar are: Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson.

Three further captain picks will be announced on September 2 creating the team of 12.