Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers Confirmed

Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers Confirmed

Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger secured the final Ryder Cup automatic spots after a chaotic final day at the BMW PGA Championship.

Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers Confirmed

A fair bit had been said about the Ryder Cup qualification process before Wentworth begun but, with double points on offer, we were treated to a tense final round.

After his disappointing five-over-par final day, it seemed that Westwood was out of the running. However, thanks to Shane Lowry's poor stretch over the back nine, Westwood would secure a spot, with Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger also joining him to be the second rookie on the team.

Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers

Westwood will make his 11th appearance. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

With automatic qualification, Westwood will equal Sir Nick Faldo's record of 11 Ryder Cup appearances, with Wiesberger becoming the first Austrian to tee it up at the event.

The duo will join Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick at Whistling Straits in under two weeks time.

Related: Lee Westwood - They Don't Need This Week, Two Weeks Before The Ryder Cup

Captain, Padraig Harrington will now have a dilemma as he only has three selections left to complete his team of 12.

Ryder Cup Automatic Qualifiers

Wiesberger will become the first Austrian to play in the Ryder Cup. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

With the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose the favourites to get the picks, it is going to make for interesting viewing to see who the three-time Major champion leaves out.

Harrington has previously mentioned that Garcia would have "to lose a limb” to miss out on a wildcard for September’s Ryder Cup and that Ian Poulter is “not far behind."

If that were the case, the 50-year-old will be left with a difficult decision between Lowry and Rose, who have both been in great form recently.

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Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x