Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has criticised Nick Faldo for selecting Ian Poulter over Darren Clarke as a captain's wild card.

Faldo opted for Poulter and Paul Casey as his two wildcard picks for Europe's defence of the trophy at Valhalla, Kentucky, meaning Ulsterman Clarke missed out.

"For me it was always Casey and Clarke I would have gone for, although I can understand Poulter made it a very difficult choice for Nick," said the Scot, who captained Europe holed the winning putt in 1985.

"He saw some great golf from Poulter on the final day of the Open. It was a great performance by Ian who could easily have won it.

"But I think Ian made an error by not playing at Gleneagles (where he could have earned an automatic Ryder Cup place in last week's Johnnie Walker Championship).

"He would have got a yellow card from me over that."

Torrance also expected the hugely-experienced Colin Montgomerie to be brought on board as a second vice-captain alongside Jose Maria Olazabal, having failed to qualify by right for the team or earn a captain's pick.

"I was a wee bit surprised at that decision," the 2002 Ryder Cup captain added. "From my experience it is very difficult to get everything right on an occasion like this.

"When I was captain in 2002 I had three assistants but if he's decided to do it this way then that is his choice.

"I would have had at least one extra vice-captain if I were him now but my main advice to Nick would be just to go and enjoy it.

"Winning the Ryder Cup as captain felt a million miles better to me than winning it as a player.

"I was very relaxed as a player and, of course, you can't be tense in that situation.

"And if you show you are tense as a captain and keep running about from one situation to another, it can give the wrong message to the players."