The final man currently occupying the automatic qualifying spots is Ross Fisher, another player who made huge strides forward in 2017, finishing sixth in the Race to Dubai rankings for his best finish on the European Tour in eight years.
If it wasn’t for Fisher’s close friend and potential future Ryder Cup teammate Hatton, the 37 year old might have won twice, at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Italian Open, however despite carding final rounds of 61 and 63 in those events, Fisher eventually finished second and tied second respectively.
So there you have it, the eight players currently occupying those all-important automatic qualification places for the 2018 Ryder Cup team.
Much can change between now and the end of the final counting event - Made in Denmark next August- especially with there being a greater weighting for points earned in tournaments from the 2018 BMW PGA Championship until Denmark next year.
Whatever happens, be sure to keep an eye on the race to qualify for Team Europe as it continues to develop throughout 2018. It’s always an exciting one.
