Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon inspired by one of golf’s great gestures

Sportsmanship: Darren Clarke

In 2006, European captain Ian Woosnam had two captain's picks for the competition at The K Club in Ireland. With one of them, he selected Darren Clarke, whose wife Heather died of cancer just six weeks before the matches. As play unfolded that week, the overwhelming support for Clarke emanated not just from his own teammates, but his competitors, as well.

"It was incredible how our team got behind Darren," Woosnam said recently, "and how the American team got behind Darren, as well."

"Every one of them (the American team) spoke to me and gave me a hug," Clarke said. "They made me feel like I should be there."

Clarke's play showed be belonged. He won all three matches he played, including a 3-and-2 victory in singles over Zach Johnson. Johnson conceded a 4-foot putt to seal the match for Clarke, and the Europeans rolled to an 18-9 victory.

"Woosie took a huge gamble in picking me for the team," Clarke recently said. "I did tell him I was ready to play, but then again in that scenario nobody knew how I was going to play. But the support they showed for me that whole week was incredibly special."

"Darren being here was an inspiration itself," said Tiger Woods in 2006. "And his play was remarkable."

Woosnam's confidence in Clarke, who overcame incredible circumstances at The K Club, paid off.

Performance: Exceeding Expectations

All competitors enter the Ryder Cup carrying the burden of expectation. The hopes of their respective nations lies on the talented shoulders of 24 of the world's greatest players. The quickest way to become a Ryder Cup legend is to exceed those expectations and lead your side to victory.

'Expected points' are the predictive baseline for a player's expected output in a given Ryder Cup week. This number is generated by a number of factors, including player form, course-fit statistics, past performance in team events, and match play record.

Perhaps no player has best embodied outperforming expectations in recent years at the Ryder Cup than 'The Postman,' Ian Poulter. In his six Ryder Cup appearances dating to 2008, Poulter has an expected points total of 9.71. He has blown away that total, accumulating 15 points. Poulter will look to improve on his 14-6-2 career match record as a captain's pick this year at Whistling Straits.

On the American side, Jordan Spieth has amassed an impressive Four-ball record, winning five of his six career matches. His five points won in that format since his Ryder Cup debut in 2014 far exceed his expected sum of 3.09. Spieth and Justin Thomas combined to win both of their four-ball matches in Paris three years ago.

In addition to qualitative factors like sportsmanship and teamwork, the selectors will use objective data, such as a player's performance against his expected points, to determine the recipient of the first Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon.

Looking forward to Whistling Straits

According to Twenty First Group analysis, no course on the 2015 PGA TOUR schedule valued extra driving distance more than Whistling Straits did at the PGA Championship.

U.S. Captain Steve Stricker demonstrated strong decision-making by using that data to shape his team. Eight of Stricker's 12 players ranked in the top-50 in driving distance during the last PGA TOUR season. All but one player - reigning Open Champion Collin Morikawa - had above-TOUR-average distance in the 2020-21 season. The United States' power contingent is led by Bryson DeChambeau, who led the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2021 and set the single-season driving distance record (323.7 yards).

The European side will bring some top-heavy talent off the tee to the party, as well. Four of the top five players in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee last season will play for Europe: Jon Rahm (2nd), Sergio Garcia (3rd), Rory McIlroy (4th) and Viktor Hovland (5th). Europe boasts five of the top 15 players in Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee for the season, while the Americans have just two (DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka).

Power will invariably be a significant factor when determining which side wins the Cup later this month in Wisconsin.

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