CHRIS WOODS nightmare final hole at the KLM Open was another blow for the latest crop of Ryder Cup rejects.
Bristolian Woods three-putt in Holland saw him miss out by one shot to Chinas Wu Ashun for a third runner-up finish this year without adding to his three titles.
And it is another snapshot of the struggles the Class of 2016 have endured since their Europe debuts.
That baptism of fire during the 17-11 pounding at Hazeltine was touted as a steep learning curve for the new boys in the team.
The theory was they would come back stronger for the experience.
But not one of the six rookies is in the team for Paris next week.
World No77 Wood will watch on with fellow Englishmen Matthew Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett and Andy Sullivan, plus Spains Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Fitzpatrick, 24, is the only one of that gang to improve his ranking since Hazeltine from world No44 to No37.
He is also the only multiple winner. His European Masters win this month was his third since the Ryder Cup and, agonisingly, came just a week after Thomas Bjorn named his four wild cards.
But do not try telling Fitzpatrick he was unlucky to miss out.
He said: Ive been genuinely amazed at how many people have said to me that latest win was a great way to stick two fingers up at Thomas for not picking me.
Thats absolute rubbish. The bottom line is I didnt play well enough during the qualifying period to deserve a wild card.
Its frustrating to hit my best just after the team was finalised but you cant criticise Thomas for that.
I needed to play some great golf during the summer and felt I was ready to make a big push after I played really well at the US Open.
I should have done better than tied 12th there but instead of building on it I went into reverse. I missed the cut at The Open and the USPGA so Ive no one to blame but myself.
Ive no hard feelings. It hurts not being on the team and I know Thomas is a bit disappointed.
He told me at the EurAsia Cup at the start of the year that he wanted me on his team. But its not his fault, its mine.
Ive just got to knuckle down and make sure I dont suffer any more disappointments like that.
Cabrera-Bello is regarded as the unluckiest to be snubbed, especially as fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia was picked despite being in freefall since winning last years Masters.
Tiger Woods describes how proud he is to be back in Ryder Cup USA playing team after six years outIn 2016, Cabrera-Bello won 2 points out of a three but has hardly been pulling up trees since.
Although he is the only other 2016 rookie to add to his winning tally with last years Scottish Open title.
Pieters looked on for a wild card after being Europes top scorer at Hazeltine with four points and linking brilliantly with Rory McIlroy.
But do you really pick a player who has gone from world No41 to No67 and not made a top three in 41 starts?
Wood slipped 47 spots but has taken on a new coach and caddie in a bid to put it right.
Sullivan is down to world No129 and has not looked like adding to the three wins that earned him his spot two years ago.
And 2016 Masters champ Willetts downward spiral hardly helped by his brothers anti-American rant at Hazeltine has been played out excruciatingly in the public eye.
Willett was top ten on his Ryder Cup debut. He is now No310 but that is at least an improvement from his low of 462nd and underlines his determination to get back.
They clearly all have a lot to prove if the Class of 2016 is going to back up the old adage that what doesnt kill you makes you stronger most of them look badly wounded at least.
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