European Tour changes 2018 European Ryder Cup qualifying process
European Tour Ryder Cup

2018 European Ryder Cup points, qualifying system unveiled

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The European Tour is changing its membership requirements and Ryder Cup qualifying process with the intent of giving 2018 European captain Thomas Bjorn a better shot at winning the Ryder Cup back in Paris at Le Golf National.

The new membership requirement is the first big change. The European Tour now only requires players to compete in four European Tour-specific events to maintain status, not counting the majors and World Golf Championships. This is a rule designed to lure European players who are typically on the PGA Tour, including players like Paul Casey, who didn't take membership in 2016 despite the prior change to the membership requirement from 13 total sanctioned events to five European Tour-specific events outside the WGCs and majors. The European Tour, which maintains their rule that a player must be a European Tour member to be under consideration for a European Ryder Cup spot, hopes guys like Casey, Jon Rahm and Russell Knox will pursue status.

The changes in the Ryder Cup qualifying process are significant as well:

The top four players on the European Points list after the tournament ends Sept. 2, 2018, will make the team. They will earn points based on official European Tour money.

  • A player will earn 1 point for each Euro of official money earned by a European Tour member from all Race to Dubai tournaments from Aug. 31, 2017 through May 20, 2018. (Bonus pool money doesn't count.)
  • A player will earn 1.5 points for each Euro of official money earned by a European Tour member from all Race to Dubai tournaments from May 24, 2018 through Sept. 2, 2018.

After that, the top four golfers on the World Points list, not already picked in the first four from the European points list, will qualify. They will earn points based on Official World Golf Ranking points:

  • A player will earn 1 point for each Official World Golf Ranking point earned by a European Tour member in all tournaments, except those scheduled opposite Rolex Series events, from Aug. 31, 2017 through May 20, 2018. (Bonus pool money doesn't count.)
  • A player will earn 1.5 points for each Official World Golf Ranking point earned by a European Tour member in all tournaments, except those scheduled opposite Rolex Series events from May 24, 2018 through Sept. 2, 2018.

Thomas Bjorn will have four wild-card picks.

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Ryan Ballengee

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