Rasmus Hojgaard was not eligible for the FedEx Cup -Play -Ooffs, nor he won the Betfred British Masters organized by Sir Nick Faldo on Sunday on the Belfry Golf Course. But when he tapped to finish his last round 71 to bind for 13th place, his mission was reached.
Hojgaard went in seventh place in the rankings of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup. Without points awarded on the Tour Championship, Hojgaard had to bind this week 29 or better for the sixth and Last automatic qualifying place And take his ticket to Bethpage Black in September. After he had secured his place, Hojgaard pumped his fist and hugged his Caddy before he received a phone call from Captain Luke Donald.
“Welcome to Team Europe!” Donald said. “How does it feel?”
“It feels great,” Hojgaard replied. “I don’t think I’ve been so stressed before, played the last pair of holes, but yes, it was pretty cool!”
Sunday was a stressful ride for Rasmus. He opened with Birdies on 2, 3 and 4 before he made four bogeys about his next eight holes to increase the pressure that came along the piece. But a Birdie on the Par-5 15th gave him a boost and he sent it to the house to secure his first Ryder Cup spot.
“I don’t know what to feel now,” Hojgaard said after the round. “I was so stressed on the course today. I told Tom, my Caddy there, I don’t know how to do this. You know, I finally succeeded in making a good four there. So yes, I am now in the clouds.”
Hojgaard jumped over Shane Lowry in the rankings to secure the latest automatic qualifying place. He joins Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert Macintyre as the first six to secure places for Team Europe.
Hojgaard was not a member of the 2023 team that the Americans defeated in Rome, but he was present at Marco Simone. With his twin brother, Nicolai, on the Roster, Donald and his staff chose to bring Rasmus on board as a buggy driver so that he could be near the team.
While Hojgaard Lowry jumped into the rankings, the Irishman will almost certainly earn a captain of Donald. The Europeans are expected to return 11 of the 12 members from their 2023-winning team, where Rasmus Nicolai replaces as the only change. Donald will make his six captain Picks on 1. September. Jon Rahm, Viktor HOVOLAND, Ludvig Åberg, Sepp Sepp Stepp, Matt Fitzpatrick and Lowry are the favorites to hear their names that day, that day.
Rasmus Hojgaard was considered a possible candidate to receive the pick from the last captain if he was not eligible on Sunday. But with Hojgaard now locked up in the team, every hope for Sergio Garcia, Marco Penge or Harry Hall is probably poured because the Picks of Donald’s Captain are now reserved for six members of the 2023 team.
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