Ryder Cup 2023: Who claims Team Europe with time running out to impress?
Take a closer look at who is in contention for Team Europe at September’s Ryder Cup. Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are the only confirmed players from captain Luke Donald. Watch the Ryder Cup live from 30 September to 2 October on Sky Sports Golf
7:47, United Kingdom, Tuesday 15 August 2023
The DP World Tour season continues this week at the ISPS Handa World Invitational, with time running out for players to try to qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
The innovative event, sanctioned by the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, sees men and women play on the same courses at the same time, with the tournament one of only three events remaining in the Ryder Cup qualifying campaign.
The D+D Real Czech Masters next week and the Omega European Masters from August 31 to September 3 are the only DP World Tour tournaments where Ryder Cup points are on offer, with captain Luke Donald then naming his captain’s picks on September 4.
Rory McIlroy says the Ryder Cup is now his main focus after what he describes as an ‘unforgettable’ week at The Open
The top three players on the European Points List and the next three available on the World Points List will automatically qualify to feature at the Marco Simone GC from September 30 to October 2, live on Sky Sports, with Donald’s six picks to they then complete the series of Group Europe- above.
Masters Champion John Rahm and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy they already have an unassailable hold on the standings and will both play key roles for Donald’s in Rome, but many players are still vying for the bottom spot on the European Points List.
A look back at the best of Jon Rahm’s thrilling eight-under third round that put him in contention at The Open
Robert MacIntyre moved up to third after finishing runner-up to McIlroy at the Genesis Scottish Open, following a tie-fourth finish at Made in Himmerland last week, with the Scot eyeing his Ryder Cup debut at the venue he won last year’s DS Automobiles Italian Open September.
MacIntyre has a 90-point lead over Germany Yannick Paulwho was in the automatic qualifying spots for large parts of the year after winning the Mallorca Golf Open last October and recorded five top-10s on the DP World Tour in 2023.
Adrian Meronc won the Italian Open in May and remains firmly in contention to become the first Polish Ryder Cup player in history, 129 points behind MacIntyre in fifth, while Tommy Fleetwood is in fifth place but is currently set to qualify via the World Points list.
Tommy Fleetwood holes a long birdie to ignite his final round at The Open
Winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Victor Perez is in sixth and joins MacIntyre and Adrian Otaegi (ninth) on show this week in Northern Ireland to try and move up the Ryder Cup standings.
Rasmus Hodgsgaard and Shane Lowry are the other players currently in the top 10 who will both feature next week in Switzerland, while Jordan Smith (12th), Jorge Campillo (13th), Joost Luiten (14th) and the 2018 winner Thorbjorn Olesen (16th) will need a big finish. in the qualification campaign in the coming weeks if they are to take a latecomer spot.
Legendary golf coach Pete Cowen claims 51-year-old Padraig Harrington deserves a place in the European squad ahead of the Ryder Cup in Rome and reveals increased strength has helped him improve his game recently.
What about the World Points list?
The two remaining FedExCup playoffs – this week’s BMW Championship and the season-ending Tour Championship from August 24-27 – are the last two PGA Tour tournaments for European players to qualify via the world points list.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald discusses why the Open is a very important week for him as he discusses plans with players and admits the tournament is on his mind 24/7
Rahm and McIlroy also occupy the top two spots on this list, while Victor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrell Huttonand Tommy Fleetwood are next in line.
Sep Straka, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Adrian Meronc then round out the top 10, but with Lowry missing the FedExCup playoffs, Straka and Rose can make a real play to seal their spot in Rome.
Can Europe win the Ryder Cup again in Rome? Watch the biennial competition exclusively live from 30 September to 2 October on Sky Sports.
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