The Englishman has become the final automatic qualifier for Darren Clarke’s European team after Ireland’s Lowry finishes outside the top four in North Carolina.
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“In the experienced corner we have two men who have lit up the world of golf in recent weeks, Open champion Henrik Stenson and Olympic champion Justin Rose, joined by Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy who, aside from being two of the most dynamic Ryder Cup performers of recent years, are also winners this year”.
The three wild card picks will be confirmed by Clarke next Tuesday, August 30th, at Wentworth.
The 29-year-old has failed to kick-on since that impressive showing however, as he missed four straight cuts earlier this summer, with two of those failings coming at The Open and the PGA Championship.
Fellow Englishman Andy Sullivan has also guaranteed qualification for the first time, along with BMW PGA Championship victor Chris Wood, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who looked good again at the Wyndham Championship in the United States, and Masters victor Danny Willett. “We can look forward to it and get my game in shape”.
Pieters jetted 6,000 miles from Rio after finishing fourth at the Olympics in a bid to chase automatic qualification for September’s Ryder Cup.
“I’ve been playing well in the last couple of years, but just had a little bit of bad form at the wrong time”.
He told reporters: “I am absolutely delighted with the nine players who have qualified”.
“It’s a great opportunity”.
There are lots of good players who haven’t made the team yet and will be hoping to be a captain’s pick, such as Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Russell Knox, Shane Lowry, Thomas Pieters and Tyrrell Hatton. However, his father insisted that he go to university first to have something to fall back on in case he proved to be a “flash in the pan”!
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Michael McEwan is the assistant editor of bunkered and its sister publications Scottish Club Golfer and English Club Golfer.
