Missing Hunter Mahan puzzles European Ryder Cup team

Hunter Mahan was not one of those selected for the Ryder Cup (GETTY IMAGES)

Hunter Mahan's absence from the United States Ryder Cup team surprised the European captain, Jose Maria Olazabal.

Olazabal was sure Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk would receive wild cards. The US captain, Davis Love III, gave the other two to Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker, leaving out Mahan, a winner twice this year on the US PGA Tour and part of the last five Ryder Cup teams.

"They are very solid picks," Olazabal said. "The only question mark was Snedeker picked ahead of Mahan but then Davis has gone for form. Snedeker has pretty much been playing well from the start of the summer."