Spurned Scot Russell Knox believes being based full-time in the USA hindered his chances of gaining a Ryder Cup call-up for Europe.

The 31-year-old was left disappointed when Darren Clarke opted for Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters as his three wild cards for the biennial battle with the US at Hazeltine later this month.

Knox, with two PGA Tour wins this season, only joined the European Tour in the wake of his breakthrough win in the WGC HSBC Champions event last November.

Had he been a member of the Tour at the time of his triumph, the Inverness exile would have amassed a huge number of qualifying points and would have earned an automatic place in the team.

Knox was left to rely on a captain’s pick and the Florida-based golfer conceded that being the outsider in a tight knit European scene had an impact on his Ryder Cup ambitions.

He said: “Playing full time in the US probably hurt me to be honest. I know I joined the European Tour but I don’t think anyone has got a pick for Europe while playing full time in the US.

“It hurt me for a few reasons. It didn’t allow me to have a relationship with anyone. I mean I’m not close with any of them. Darren, Paul Lawrie. Nobody really reached out, nor did I, to get closer or get more friendly.

“Don’t take this out of context. It’s not their job to reach out, hold my hand and drag me through. It was 100 per cent my responsibility to do my part and maybe try and include myself a bit more. But it’s not about friends. It’s not about having 12 best friends on the team. It’s having the 12 best European players that Darren feels he can win the Ryder Cup with and clearly he didn’t feel I was one of those 12. I have to be ok with that.

“I’m happy with what I’ve done and how I’ve played. I gave everything to make the team and it wasn’t meant to be.

Westwood, meanwhile, is keen to prove his critics wrong after securing a captain’s pick and teeing-up a 10th Ryder Cup appearance.

Westwood, who needs just two points to equal the European record points haul held by Nick Faldo, had been struggling to find form at the start of the qualifying campaign.

But a second place finish in this year’s Masters, and a series of other solid showings in 2016, convinced Clarke that his old friend would be a hugely valuable addition to the team.

Westwood said: “I was determined to show some form and get on the team. I wasn’t ready to write my game off but any time anybody does, it’s good motivation. You can either take it and be miserable or stick it back down their throat. That’s the attitude you have to have when you go to a Ryder Cup.”