Ryder Cup automatic spots confirmed

Europe’s team to defend the Ryder Cup will contain at least five rookies after the nine automatic qualifiers were decided this weekend.

Thomas Pieters needed to successfully defend his Czech Master title, and Shane Lowry required a top four finish to keep their hopes alive heading into the final PGA event in Denmark. Pieter’s lost by a single shot on Sunday to Paul Peterson and Lowry was T42 at the Wyndham.

This means that Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Chris Wood, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick are all confirmed for the team.

There are five rookies: Cabrera-Bello, Willett, Wood, Sullivan and Fitzpatrick, although Willett and Wood have won the Masters and BMW PGA Championship.

Darren Clarke will name his three wild cards on the 30th of August. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are firm favourites for a pick. This leaves Russell Knox and Pieter’s vying for the final place, alongside Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell.

Sam Torrance made a very strong case for an in–form Russell Knox, but will DC forgoe taking another rookie, and opt for the experience that Graeme McDowell would bring? We’ll have to wait until the 30^th of August to find out.

Related:

Click here or on the image below for Sam Torrance’s take on Russell Knox