The start of the BMW PGA Championship, a Rolex Series Event on the European Tour, sees The European Ryder Cup Points Race begin.

Captain Padraig Harrington made the decision that the leading four members on The Ryder Cup European Points List and the leading five members on The Ryder Cup World Points List will qualify automatically for the European side.

Harrington will then pick the three remaining members that will make up his 12 man squad.

Every Race to Dubai Point and Official World Golf Ranking Point won by a member of the Tour between the start of the BMW PGA Championship and Sunday 3rd May will be worth one point.

Any points earned after that on both the Race to Dubai and Official World Golf Rankings will be worth 1.5 points until qualification ends on Sunday 13th September.

Ten of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team are in the field this week and will look to kickstart the Points Race with a successful week at Wentworth Golf Club.

The likes of Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose all feature in the field, as well as US Ryder Cup stars Tony Finau and Patrick Reed.