EUROPEAN POINTS

With the expected loss of some of Team Europe’s most influential figures over the last 20 years, including Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and record points scorer Sergio Garcia, this year’s qualification process, along with Luke Donald’s six Captain’s Picks, could potentially shape the future

of European golf for years to come, with a host of names featuring in the contest for the very first time. Here, we take a look at who is leading the way and who’s on the bubble to qualify as Europe look to avenge their record breaking defeat when they head to the Eternal City.

Despite only playing in five DP World Tour events since qualification started, McIlroy leads the way on the European Points list thanks to a stellar run which has seen him finish inside the top five in each event. One of those tournaments was here in UAE when he came out on top of a thrilling battle with former Ryder Cup rival Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic, picking up the Dallah Trophy for a record-equaling third time. The Northern Irishman broke down in tears in the last Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, claiming “he should have done more for the team” after finishing the week with the lowest amount of points from any of his outings in the biennial contest. He will no doubt be looking to put things right at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, where he enjoyed a fourth place finish on his first outing there at last year’s Italian Open.

Rahm has played in fewer qualifying events than McIlroy but still finds himself inside the top three automatic qualifiers having won two events and finished second in the other in his three starts since qualification started. That run begun at the BMW PGA Championship where the Spaniard fired a spellbinding final round 62 to surge up the leaderboard into second, finishing just a stroke behind champion Shane Lowry. In his next start on the European circuit he captured his national Open for a third time, before securing a third DP World Tour Championship crown with a dominant performance in Dubai. In the last Ryder Cup, Europe only managed a measly nine points –Rahm won over a third of those, playing all five matches and teaming up with compatriot Sergio Garcia for three victories in the fourballs and foursomes. Both him and McIlroy will be key figures if Europe are to regain the trophy.

Arguably the most surprising name who is currently making the team is Yannik Paul. The German only secured his DP World Tour playing privileges just two seasons ago through the Challenge Tour, before enjoying a fine rookie year on the main European circuit, picking up a maiden title at the Mallorca Open and ending the season ranked 20th in the Race to Dubai. That victory, along with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Thailand Classic and Hero Indian Open in February, has seen Paul rise into the top three of the European Points list. Can count himself unlucky he wasn’t chosen to feature in the Hero Cup earlier this year, given the fact he finished higher on last season’s Rankings than a number of players who did play, but Donald will no doubt be impressed by Paul’s recent form as he looks to show the Captain he belongs on the game’s biggest stage.

Rahm and McIlroy lead the way in the World Points list, but as they would have already qualified through the European Points list, Tyrrell Hatton secures the first spot available. The Englishman has played some of his best golf in the States over the last few months, finishing in a share of sixth at the WM Phoenix Open, T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and second at the prestigious Players Championship where he picked up $2.7 million, the biggest prize of his career to date. His form will no doubt encourage Ryder Donald, who is looking to mix players with experience with new blood following the expected loss of Ryder Cup stalwarts Poulter, Garcia and Westwood to LIV Golf.

Having only featured once on the DP World Tour since qualification started, Hovland looks set to play his way in through the World Points list following a decent run of form in the States. The 2022 Dubai Desert Classic champion, who became the first Norwegian to play in the Ryder Cup in 2021, has posted four top tens since the qualification process began, with his best result coming at the Players Championship, finishing in a share of third to bank vital points for both the Ryder Cup and FedExCup. If he is to make this year’s team, he’ll be hoping for a better return on points than his maiden outing where he failed to win any of his five matches, but did still manage to bank a point thanks to a half in both the singles and the Friday fourballs.

Lowry realised a childhood dream when Padraig Harrington picked him for the team to take on the US at Whistling Straits in 2021, although the week didn’t quite go to plan after a record-breaking loss. Currently, the Irishman is just edging out Tommy Fleetwood for the final automatic qualification spot in the World Points list with his win at last year’s BMW PGA Championship ensuring he got qualification off to a perfect start. Hasn’t played his best stuff since that triumph at Wentworth, with only one top ten finish in his last 11 starts, but his ticket looks set to be punched for a second outing at the biennial contest whether through qualifying or a Captain’s Pick again.