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The fight for a position on Europe's Ryder Cup team is heating up with less than six weeks to go.
Here, we look at some of the concerns that must be resolved by early September.
What is the process of qualification?
How we shape up at the conclusion of @TheOpen.
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 24, 2023
Only six weeks of qualifying remain 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/XgHQ4hqgjG
Three players will qualify from the European Points List, which is based on DP global Tour results, and three will qualify from the World Points List, which is based on global ranking points earned during the qualifying season. Captain Luke Donald will have the option of making six personal picks.
How much time do the players have left?
Donald will announce his selections on September 4, the day following the Omega European Open. However, there are only three DP World Tour qualifying tournaments left, and there is a three-week break before the first of those, the ISPS HANDA World Invitational at Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland. It is followed by the Czech Masters in Prague before the final tournament in Crans Montana, Switzerland. The PGA Tour has five tournaments this week, including the 3M Open in Minnesota, the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina, the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis, the BMW Championship in Illinois, and the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Who is most likely to receive automatic spots?
Because they have so many points, world number two and three, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, are secure on the European Points List. However, third-placed Scot Robert MacIntyre's position might be jeopardised. Norway's Viktor Hovland and England's Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood now hold the top three spots on the World Points List, with Fleetwood the most vulnerable.
How would Donald select his captain's choices?
This year, the number was increased from three to six to offer the captain greater leeway in selecting players in form in the final few months. After losing so badly at Whistling Straits two years ago, the team is now missing a number of vastly experienced players, including Sergio Garcia, the Ryder Cup's record points scorer, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Paul Casey, who have all defected to LIV Golf.
So, who is Donald thinking about?
On the World Points List, Fleetwood is being pushed by 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick for his automatic berth, although it is unimaginable that both will not travel to Rome. Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, both former major champions, are also in the running since their knowledge will be important. Sepp Straka, who came equal second at The Open, is strongly positioned on both lists, in form, and appears to be a solid chance, as is MacIntyre. Yannick Paul of Germany, Pole Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez of France, and Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark are all high on the European Points List and will be hoping to impress in the closing weeks as they compete for the likely two remaining berths.
