Team Europe picture draws clearer as Ryder Cup qualification comes to a close at The Belfry

A year-long qualification period to represent Team Europe at the Ryder Cup comes to an end at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

With no Ryder Cup points awarded at this week’s Tour Championship – the final event of the FedEx Cup PlayOffs - on the PGA TOUR, there is just one remaining opportunity to earn points and guarantee a spot in Captain Luke Donald’s team for next month’s contest at Bethpage, New York.

Almost 12 months on from the qualifying process getting under way at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, the four-time host to the Ryder Cup serves as the scene for the final counting event.

Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton have all secured their places in Donald’s 12-man team.

Scotland's MacIntyre sealed a return to the team, two years on from his debut in Italy, as a runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship on the PGA TOUR on Sunday saw him climb to second behind McIlroy on the European Team Rankings.

Hatton, who won his eighth DP World Tour title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, will make his fourth appearance, with his points tally unassailable ahead of the final qualifying event.

So, that leaves just one automatic qualifying place up for grabs as the DP World Tour’s Back 9 begins this week in England.

Shane Lowry, who has received a Captain’s Pick in each of his two Ryder Cup appearances to date, is the man who currently sits sixth in the rankings.

Who can still qualify?

There is just one player who can overtake Lowry.

Runner-up last week on home soil at the Danish Golf Championship, Rasmus Højgaard sits eighth and could yet still make his way into an automatic spot with another good week at The Belfry.

The Dane, whose twin brother Nicolai featured at the 2023 Ryder Cup, needs to finish in a tie for 29th with one other player or better to earn the 13.7 points that would see him overhaul Lowry.

With a win over the weekend, Rasmus would have risen to fifth with 1318.91 points and gaurenteed himself a Ryder Cup debut.

When do the Captain’s Picks get announced?

MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 21: Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald of England plays a shot behind the Ryder Cup trophy during the pro-am prior to the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried on June 21, 2023 in Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Donald will announce his six Captain’s Picks to complete his 12-man team on September 1, a day after the climax of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Sepp Straka, Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland – all of whom are winners on the PGA TOUR this season – are among those who will miss out on automatic qualification and require a Captain’s Pick.

Other notables include Matt Fitzpatick and Jon Rahm, who between them have appeared in six Ryder Cup teams.

Who else is aiming to impress?

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 01: Matthew Fitzpatrick of England looks on from the ninth green during the second round of the Wyndham Championship 2025 at Sedgefield Country Club on August 01, 2025 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

After missing out on finishing among the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR FedEx Cup Standings. Fitzpatrick has made the journey to England.

The Sheffield native made his DP World Tour breakthrough at the 2015 British Masters, claiming his first victory at Woburn as the youngest player in the field, and makes his return for the first time since 2018.

Countryman Aaron Rai is 15th in the European Team Rankings and while he can’t force his way into the top six, he is set to play both this week in England and next week in Switzerland in a bid to press his case for inclusion.

Marco Penge has enjoyed a breakout season, winning his second DP World Tour title on Sunday in Denmark, and has spoken of his desire to provide a late headache to Donald.

Matt Wallace and Nicolai Højgaard also still harbour hopes of a pick, while Thomas Detry – a winner on the PGA TOUR this year – is in the field for the Omega European Masters next week.

Harry Hall played his way to the Tour Championship over the weekend, and he now sits just outside the world’s top 50 and is among those hoping to make his Ryder Cup debut.