Sepp Straka Moves into Automatic Qualification Spots after Signature Win

Sepp Straka climbed 15 places and up to fifth in the 2025 European Ryder Cup Qualification race after his two-stroke victory over Shane Lowry at the Truist Championship – a Signature Event on the PGA TOUR.

The Austrian now claims one of the six automatic qualification places on 942.73 points, with Lowry climbing three places into second with 1,124.18 points.

Should Straka make Luke Donald’s European team at Bethpage Black in September, it will be his second consecutive appearance after a victorious debut in 2023.

FLOURTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Sepp Straka of Austria poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the Truist Championship 2025 at The Wissahickon at Philadelphia Cricket Club on May 11, 2025 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Straka and Lowry, who were foursomes partners at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023, entered the final round tied for the lead on 14 under par.

The pair would exchange the lead on multiple occasions during an exciting final round in Philadelphia and would find themselves still locked in a tie with three holes remaining.

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However, when Lowry short-sided himself on the par three 16th hole, Straka would claim the lead once more with Lowry failing to get up and down for par.

Despite finding the fairway bunker on the tough 18th hole, Straka’s nerve would hold hitting a four iron to 30ft from 216 yards.

And when Lowry three putted for a closing bogey, Straka was left with two putts from three feet to win the tournament and become the second multiple-time winner this year alongside Rory McIlroy.

FLOURTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Sepp Straka of Austria reacts with Shane Lowry of Ireland after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the Truist Championship 2025 at The Wissahickon at Philadelphia Cricket Club on May 11, 2025 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Straka said: “It [winning] is huge, the biggest win of my career. I’m just so grateful for the process and the whole team that makes me play as well as I do.

“My coaches weren't here this week, but they're there almost every week. Even this week when they weren't here, there's always a back and forth, and they're always working on my game to help me succeed. It's great to see their hard work pay off.”

“I hit a lot of really good shots and made a lot of mistakes. I hung in there.

“I had a two-shot lead [after the ninth hole] and made two bogeys on the next two holes to lose it, but I kept the same attitude and mentality throughout the round."

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Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood enjoyed a strong week carding rounds of 68-68-67-65 to finish in a tie for fourth place at Philadelphia Cricket Club. The three-time Team Europe man currently sits in eighth place in European qualification with 814.33 points.

Recent Grand Slam winner McIlroy finished two strokes further back in a tie for seventh place but still leads the European Rankings with 2,955.70 points.

As it stands, McIlroy currently occupies top spot in qualifying on 2,863.75 points, with Lowry (1,124.18 points), Rasmus Højgaard (1,023.03 points), Tyrrell Hatton (990.55 points), Straka (942.73 points) and Justin Rose (870.04 points) rounding out the automatic qualifiers.

The qualification process will end at the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, which concludes on Sunday August 24, 2025.