All of the 10 players currently set to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team did not compete this week, preparing for an American double including the season's final major.
European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will pull 10 automatic qualifiers from two separate points lists. The top 5 players on the European Points List after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will make the team.
The top 5 after the Lyoness Open (points in parentheses):
1. Rory McIlroy (2,635,952.52)
2. Graeme McDowell (2,197,505.29)
3. Justin Rose (2,062,615.50)
4. Paul Lawrie (2,033,778.14)
5. Francesco Molinari (2,001,002.18)
The next five players will be the highest five on the World Points List not already on the team. Currently, that handful of players would consist of the following in order of their position on the list (points in parentheses):
2. Luke Donald (349.76)
3. Lee Westwood (280.27)
8. Peter Hanson (173.57)
9. Martin Kaymer (168.99)
10. Sergio Garcia (155.58)
Olazabal will finalize his team by making two picks. Here are a few players not currently inside the top five on either points list but who deserve consideration:
Nicolas Colsaerts: Colsaerts needs a big PGA Championship to secure a berth or risk losing out on a pick to a veteran.
Ian Poulter: Poulter seems a mortal lock for one of two picks given his form this season and Ryder Cup record.
Padraig Harrington: Harrington needs to continue to show his resurgence at Firestone and Kiawah Island.
Thomas Bjorn: Bjorn is in danger of missing the team after an outstanding 2011 was not backed up this year.
Add Comment