The players in contention for final European Ryder Cup qualification spots

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The players in contention for final European Ryder Cup qualification spots

By Camilla Tait On August 29, 2023 11:34 UTC

The battle for the final place on both the European Points List and the World's Points List will come to a head in Switzerland this week, in the final event in Team Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification process.

The race to secure an automatic place on Captain Luke Donald’s side will come down to seven players in the field in the event at Crans-sur-Sierre, which will be followed by Donald’s Captain’s Picks on Monday September 4.

Two-time Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick is the only player who could claim the final spot on the World Points List this week, while six players are still mathematically able to earn the last place on the European Points List.

They will all tee up on Thursday knowing that the fate of their Ryder Cup place is in their hands: Whether that is doing what they need to do to qualify, or through impressing Captain Donald in the last event of the qualifying period.

Who has already been confirmed for Team Europe?

Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton have already secured automatic qualification onto Team Europe. Both McIlroy and Rahm earned their way into the team through the top two places on the European Points List, while Hovland and Hatton more recently confirmed their places through the top two positions on the World Points List.

As it stands, Tommy Fleetwood, who is not in the field this week, occupies the final spot on the World Points List, while Robert MacIntyre is in the third and final spot on the European Points list.

World Points List comes down to Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick

After Tyrrell Hatton confirmed himself as the second player to qualify on the World Points List behind Viktor Hovland, one place remains – and it is currently occupied by England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

However, Matt Fitzpatrick, who became the first person since Seve Ballesteros to defend a title at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club when he won in 2017 and 2018, is teeing up in Switzerland this week and has the opportunity to dislodge Fleetwood to take the qualifying spot for himself.

As it stands, the pair are separated by just 3.82 points following the PGA Tour's Tour Championship last week, where Fleetwood finished in a tie for sixth and Fitzpatrick in a tie for ninth.

So what does he need to do?

With the current World Points breakdown set for this week's event, Matt Fitpatrick currently needs to finish tied 7th with one other player or better to take the final place in Donald's team.

Current Standings: Top Ten on the World Points List

Rory McIlroy (Q–EP) – 404.8
Jon Rahm (Q-EP) – 395.35
Viktor Hovland (Q) – 356.97
Tyrrell Hatton (Q) – 205.57
Tommy Fleetwood – 186.92
Matt Fitzpatrick – 183.1
Sepp Straka – 152.4
Shane Lowry – 105.21
Justin Rose – 100.32
Robert MacIntyre – 96.43

European Points List: Who is in the running?

After finishing in a six-way tie for fourth place at the D+D REAL Czech Masters, Robert MacIntyre retains a healthy lead on the European Points List heading into the final week of Ryder Cup Qualifying after narrowly increasing his advantage over closest challenger Yannik Paul.

The Scot birdied his final hole to finish his week on 17 under par, gaining 85.42 points in the Czech Republic to increase his total on the European Points List to 1,828.99.

His top five at Albatross Golf Resort also helped to increase his advantage over Paul, who began his week just 90.67 points behind MacIntyre and finished one behind him in tenth place on 16 under par. Paul gained 50 points to up his tally to 1,702.9, leaving him 126.09 points adrift of the man who displaced him in the automatic spot after his runner-up finish at the Genesis Scottish Open.

MacIntyre and Paul are two of six players in this week’s field that can end the week in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team. There are varying scenarios for it to happen, but Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, Adrian Otaegui and Rasmus Højgaard (who won this tournament in 2021) all have a mathematical chance of claiming that third and final place.

Tommy Fleetwood, who is currently occupying the third spot on the World's Points List, could have also qualified on the European Points List but is not competing in Switzerland this week.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 18: Robert MacIntyre of Scotland tees off the 16th hole on Day Four of the DS Automobiles Italian Open 2022 at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 18, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)Photo Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

European Points List: What each player needs to do to qualify for the Ryder Cup

MacIntyre could still be caught even if he finishes second, so needs to win to absolutely guarantee his place, but only a top-three finish from fellow contenders would threaten his position,
Paul will qualify if he wins. He would need to finish at least tied for third with two others, or better, to have a chance.
Meronk needs to finish in a tie for second with just one player or better to have a chance
Perez needs to win or finish in second place alone, to have a chance
R Højgaard needs to win to have a chance
Otaegui needs to win to have a chance