While the US Ryder Cup team is confirmed following Zach Johnson’s announcement of his six wildcards for the match, for Team Europe, there are still eight of the 12 spots to fill.
The final six will be confirmed on 4 September when captain Luke Donald names his wildcards, but before then, there are two automatic qualifying positions to be determined.
One of those is a straight battle between Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, who can still secure the last of three spots on the world points list. For them, it’s straightforward: Fleetwood is not playing in the Omega European Masters, but Fitzpatrick is in the field.
If he finishes tied for seventh with one other player or better, he will pip Fleetwood and join Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland as players who have qualified through the world points list.
However, there is also a final place on the European points list up for grabs, with six players in contention to join Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm on it.
Robert MacIntyre currently holds the position, and a win would guarantee he retains it whatever any other player does. But who are the five who could catch him, and what do they need to do to have a chance to overhaul him?
Yannik Paul
Yannik Paul is the best-placed player to overtake MacIntyre
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The German heads into the Omega European Masters 126.09 points behind MacIntyre on the European points list, and there’s one way he can guarantee he qualifies automatically – win the tournament.
Paul has just one DP World Tour win to his name, the 2022 Mallorca Golf Open. However, he’s come desperately close to adding to that twice this year with runner-up finishes in the Thailand Classic and Hero Indian Open.
Can he get over the line to take the final spot? If he doesn’t, he’ll need to finish at least T3 with two others, or better, to stand a chance.
Adrian Meronk
Meronk needs a strong performance to have a chance of automatic qualification
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Meronk’s win in May’s Italian Open at Marco Simone, where the Ryder Cup will be held, is probably enough to warrant serious consideration as one of Donald’s wildcards if he fails to qualify automatically.
However, he…
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