Atlanta, go. – There is a general feeling that this year’s European Ryder Cup team is completed 92 percent that 11 out of 12 members can book their flights to New York for the last week of September.
It is the 12th place that gets weird.
They are familiar faces, the first 11. They were all in the winning 2023 team, which in itself is remarkable; They offer Team Europe a level of continuity that almost never happens from one team to another. Two years is a long time in every sport, especially a sport with a top layer as volatile as Golf. But if you read their names below, I guess you nod your head and think about yourself Yes, that seems about good.
Rory Mcilroy
Tommy Fleetwood
Jon Rahm
Ludvig Aberg
Robert Macintyre
Tyrrell Hatton
Sepp sleek
Viktor HOVOLAND
Justin Rose
Shane Lowry
Matt Fitzpatrick
Strong list, right? One of the biggest question marks halfway through the summer, Justin Rose, won in Memphis to get an automatic qualifying place. Two boys whose games were disappeared, Viktor HOVOLAND and Matt Fitzpatrick, each completed in shape. All others just fit, which means that the recovery of the task of Captain Luke Donald looks relatively easy.
But once you try to choose No. 12, things become really interesting.
If you look at the advanced blows of Datagolf Homes or the more traditional Official world wave rankingThe two most likely in-shape choices would be English Aaron Rai and Harry Hall. Hall seems to be the stronger choice between the two; He has not missed a cut since the players, he has finished T28 or better in 11 consecutive starts, he Makes so much birdies If everyone on the PGA Tour (4.54 per round, T1 with Scottie Scheffler) and he is probably the hottest putter in the world. While Rai missed the Top-50 Cutoff of the Tour after the first round of the Fedex Cup play-offs, Hall brought it all the way to the Tour Championship. He is the only European on the Ryder Cup bubble to do this. How could you leave it From the team?
Enter Rasmus Hojgaard.
Based on the way in which he finished the 2024 season in Europe winning the Irish Open, as second ending in the DP World Tour Championship and the top qualifying place of the PGA Tour earned-Kreeg Hojgaard a jumping start in the points race. It probably felt that he and his twin brother Nicolai (the 12th member of 2023 team) would be in the picture for Europe’s team in Bethpage.
But the talented Dane faded from the conversation when this summer progressed, 13 weeks without an individual top 20. The game of Nicolai was also uneven. Both twins showed well to the open air, but faded to T14 and T16 on weekends, not enough to prevent them from missing the Top-70 FedEx Cup Playoff Cut Line. (Nicolai finished no. 73, Rasmus finished no. 85.)
Strangely enough, that may have worked to his advantage.
Rasmus was still clinging to the number 8 spot in the Ryder Cup ranking, and the top six arrive automatically. The twins took a week off and then went home to open their National, the Danish championship that still crucially offered European Ryder Cup points. (If you are an American and you miss the play -offs of the FedEx Cup, there is no way to earn points.) So when Rasmus finished second (in a wild final round with two Eagles, three Birdies, three Bogeys and a double), he moved within the screaming distance of NOS. 7 (Sleea), 6 (Lowry) and even 5 (Haton). Here is how the points are now:
4. Rose 1545.72
5. Hatton 1279.33
6. Lowry 1275.51
7. Sleea 1264.27
8. R. Hojgaard 1261.91
9. Aberg 1140.44
What do those points mean? In short, they mean that Rasmus is only one good finish to crack the top six. Data whizz nosferatu Calculated first That with a two -way T29 or better on the Betfred British Masters of this week, Rasmus would crack the top six. He would even move to number 5 with a top 20, in the meantime of the top six starting of the top six.
This is where things get really weird: the Tour Championship does not offer Ryder Cup points. So although Harry Hall East Lake can use the last audition, he cannot improve his status. And other potential competitors at the Betfred British Masters – Think of Matt Wallace (11th, 869.59 PTS), Marco Penge (14th, 761.63 PTS), Aaron Rai (15th, 743.31 PTS), Nicolai Hojgaard (25, 550,86 pts) –
So far, so good for Rasmus: he shot an opening round three-under 69 to be T11 at the Belfort. It must be a strange feeling, knowing that you play the only one for points that can actually make a difference, especially if you have jumped tours to acquire them. However, it is now simple: it needs a top 30 finish to earn a place in the Ryder Cup team. Are you outside the top 30, on the other hand? He will still be eighth in the rankings, but the risk is to pass for a hotter hand.
Regarding Hall? Last week he said he had hardly had any contact with someone from the European side, suggesting that he has been off their radar. But another top finish can threaten him the place of Rasmus – or force a difficult conversation around one of Europe’s more established stars.
To cook it: if Ramus Hojgaard Tweeweg T29 or better ends with the Betfred British Masters, he will be in the Ryder Cup team. If not? Your gamble is as good as mine.
>>>
#missed #play #offs #Ryder #Cup