Victor Perez rose to second in the European Ryder Cup Points List after his maiden European Tour victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Frenchman, who graduated from the second tier Challenge Tour last season, entered the final five holes two strokes behind England’s Matthew Southgate, but managed to rally to win by one on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Should Perez finish inside the automatic spaces when qualifying ends, he’ll become the fourth Frenchman to represent Europe at The Ryder Cup after Victor Dubuisson, Thomas Levet and Jean van de Velde.

Although not the result Southgate would have wanted, he also jumps inside the automatic spots on the Ryder Cup Points List, moving up to fourth.

Entering the automatic qualification places on the World Points List for the first time are England’s Paul Waring, Jordan Smith, along with Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren.

Danny Willett still leads the way with 1,215.39 points after his Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship in the first week of qualifying.

Jon Rahm, Richie Ramsay and Justin Rose also maintain their places inside the top nine – Captain Padraig Harrington will make three picks for Whistling Straits.

This week the European Tour heads to Madrid for the Mutuactivos Open de España, where once again players will be able to pick up points on both lists.

Rahm arrive in his homeland as the defending champion and overwhelming favourite, and another victory in Madrid could see the Spaniard chase down Willett at the top.

There is, it goes without saying, still a long way to go in the qualification process, though.