Darren Clarke has been overlooked for a wild card pick by European team captain Nick Faldo. Faldo instead opted to give his final two spots to the English pair of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

Clarke had been expected to secure a place in Valhalla for next month's match against the United States following his win in Holland last week.

Colin Montgomerie also misses out on the match which could have seen him take over from Faldo as the event's record points-scorer.

Poulter and Casey chose not to compete at Gleneagles this weekend but missed the cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship on the US PGA Tour.

They join Justin Rose, Soren Hansen, Oliver Wilson, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell, who all qualified automatically.

Faldo revealed he had spoken to a "disappointed" Clarke but claimed Poulter's attitude was one of the major factors behind his selection.

Faldo said: "Ian is a very determined guy, I love his attitude and what he did at The Open - that back nine he played with the intention to win and had that emotional feeling."

Clarke, meanwhile, said he is now all the more determined to earn a place at the Celtic Manor in 2010.

"Nick rang me after my last round at Gleneagles to say that I wasn't going to be one of his picks and I simply wished him all the best," Clarke said in a statement.

"Obviously I am disappointed that I wasn't selected but I have dealt with much worse and it will make me all the more determined to make the team that will play in Wales next time.

"There was a qualifying period and I didn't make it automatically, so you will not hear any sour grapes from me. I couldn't have tried any harder and I devoted myself to the European Tour to give myself the best possible chance, but although I have won twice this year it obviously wasn't enough.

"I fully respect the captain's decision and I would like to wish him and his team all the very best for Valhalla. I will be supporting them from wherever I am."

Clarke had been hoping for another wild card, having benefited in that manner two years ago. Ian Woosnam chose him then just three weeks after his wife Heather had lost her fight with breast cancer.

Three weeks later, amid emotional scenes at The K Club, Clarke won all his three matches in Europe's record-equalling nine-point victory.