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The Ryder Cup 2023: Rome
Tommy Fleetwood has moved into the final automatic qualification spot on the World Points List following his tied tenth finish at The 151st Open Championship, won by America’s Brian Harman. The Georgia native, who notched his first win since 2017 at The Open, now has three Tour titles — including a major — under his belt. And soon, he’ll likely add a Ryder Cup to his career resume.
Europe
Tommy Fleetwood
This years Open Championship, held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, just 30 miles from his hometown of Southport, Fleetwood got off to a fast start firing an opening round of 66 to sit at five-under-par.
Rounds of 71-71-72 followed, which was enough for Fleetwood to finish in a tie for tenth and earn enough World Points to replace Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick in the third qualifying position, with 158.33 points.
Although yet to win so far this year, Fleetwood has been in consistent form which includes six top ten finishes.
Should the 32-year-old make Luke Donald’s team in September, it will be his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance for Team Europe.
Sepp Straka
Sepp Straka improved his chances of making a Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club after a tied second finish at Hoylake.
The Austrian fired rounds of 71-67-70-69 for a seven-under-par total and climbed to seventh on the World Points List with 141.82 points.
Also sharing a tie for second place was two-time Ryder Cup player and current Masters Champion Jon Rahm, who’s third round 63 was the lowest of the week.
The two-time Major champion currently qualifies via the European Points List where he sits in second place with 3,417.23 points, although also tops the World Points List with 388.57 points. The only man ahead of Rahm on the European Points List is Rory McIlroy, who finished in a tie for sixth at the venue where he won his first Claret Jug back in 2014.
As it stands McIlroy (4,033.50 points), Rahm (3,417.23 points) and Robert MacIntyre (1,743.57 points) sit in the three automatic qualifying spots on the European Points List, with Viktor Hovland (265.75 points), Tyrrell Hatton (195.51 points) and Fleetwood (158.33 points) in the top three positions on the World Points List.
USA
Brain Harman
Harman jumped from 20th to third in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, with the top 6 in points automatically qualifying on Aug. 20 following the BMW Championship. But after the biggest win of his life, he's not looking that far ahead.
"I'm going to kick that can down the road a little bit," Harman said. "I'm going to enjoy this. The next thing for me will be (the FedExCup playoffs), what I'll be looking forward to." However, after a second-round 65, when Harman’s chances of winning became very real with a five-stroke lead, the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur winner expressed his desire to play in the biennial competition, which will be held this year at Marco Simone GC in Rome, Italy.
“I've spent I don't know how many years chasing a — it always seems it's right there at the end and I end up in between 13th and 18th on the list and I'm hoping for a pick,” Harman said. “It would mean the world to me to play on the Ryder Cup team. I think I would do very well.”
Though Harman may not need a pick this year, as he is on pace to qualify based on points, it helps that he has a strong relationship with Zach Johnson, this year’s U.S. captain.
U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:
- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)
- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open
- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open
- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events
Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team. The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.
