Ryder Cup Europe, more powers to the captain; will have 6 wild cards

More power to the Captain! The new criteria can be summarized according to which the European team will be formed for the next Ryder Cup which, for the first time in its history, will be played in Italy, on the course of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio (Rome ): 6 places decided on the basis of the rankings and 6 places left to Luke Donald’s choice.

The “scoring” will begin next week, with the BMW PGA Championship, scheduled from 8 to 11 September 2022 in Wentworth, England, and will end on 3 September 2023. In the end, the best three players from the European Points List will be selected. and the Top 3 of the World Points List as of September 3, 2023. Then, Captain Luke Donald will choose the other six protagonists who will complete the team. The “wild cards” available to the European captain have doubled from three (in 2021) to six. The same ones that Zach Johnson, captain of the US team can count on. Other changes agreed by Donald with his staff – currently composed of Edoardo Molinari from Turin and Thomas Bjorn from Denmark as deputy captains – concern the assignment of points relating to the European Points List. With the Majors and the DP World Tour Championship guaranteeing more points than all other events. Donald explained: “The changes to the qualification process concerning the Europe team are the result of an in-depth analysis done with the board of the Ryder Cup Europe and with my deputies: Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari. The six wild cards available will give me flexibility and ensure that I have the strongest possible lineup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. In addition, three DP World Tour members who will play predominantly on this circuit will have the opportunity to earn a place in the team through the European Points List. We are all focused on reaching the final goal which is to win back the cup in Rome and this qualification system guarantees the best chance to hit it ”.