Like his American counterpart Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald could not avoid talking about the Ryder Cup during his pre-PGA Championship press conference. The European captain will play in the event after receiving one of 34 special invitations from the organizers.
Among the many topics related to the biennial event discussed by Donald was the case of Jon Rahm. The Spaniard’s chances of making the team have been a hot topic since he signed with LIV Golf in December 2023.
When discussing the matter, Donald avoided giving any definitive answers:
“I haven’t given anyone the nod,” he said. “I think it’s a little bit too early for that. Again, I have…we have very in-depth stats. We know exactly how these players are playing. We have a great idea of where they stack up against each other and against the U.S. But I certainly think it’s a little too early to be giving anyone like firm assurances right now.”
“In terms of Jon, he’s one of the best players in the world, and I would expect him to be on that team, but I certainly haven’t given him those assurances. He still needs to keep going and playing just like everyone else. Again, no assurances have been given right now.”
The Englishman made it clear that aspirants will have to work hard to be worthy of the call, and that they still have many opportunities to do so:
“We have three majors, elevated events, plenty of other events, Rolex Series events to play. I want them to go out and feel like they go and earn it. Let’s go in and play well. But again, we do have a lot of stats.”
Donald also reflected on the importance of major championships in assessing player form:
“I think majors are important for everyone,” he said. “But it’s important for me, the majors, because personally I don’t see the Jons, the Tyrrells, Sergios, etcetera, as much these days. In terms of just talking with them and seeing them face to face, that’s important for me.”
The European team for the Ryder Cup will be selected using a points system to rank the players. The top 6 players will qualify directly for the team, while the other 6 will be selected by the captain with the help of his vice-captains.
Importantly, the European Ryder Cup team members must also be members of the DP World Tour. Rahm was in danger of losing his card, but managed to play the minimum number of events required in 2024 to remain eligible for the biennial event.
However, the Spaniard is still far from the top of the rankings (currently ranked 29th). The list is led by Rory McIlroy, with Tyrrell Hatton the only LIV player currently in the top 6 (4th).
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