Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick made important moves in the European Ryder Cup Points Race last week, after both were involved in a three-man play-off at the abrdn Scottish Open – the second Rolex Series Event on the European Tour – eventually won by Australia’s Min Woo Lee.
Detry made the biggest move of the two as he climbed 11 places on the European Points List into tenth position with 3,150.40 points, while Fitzpatrick overtook Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood to occupy the third qualifying spot on the World Points List with 269.76 points.
Fitzpatrick, a Ryder Cup rookie in 2016, fired rounds of 66-66-67-67 to make the play-off at The Renaissance Club on Sunday afternoon but couldn’t match Lee’s birdie at the first extra hole.
It was another week of consistent form for the Englishman as he collected his sixth top ten finish since the turn of the year, on top of a further three top 20 finishes in 2021.
The 26-year-old’s finish also boosted his standing on the European Points List as he jumped four places into fifth position on 4,403.90 points – just 39.87 points shy of Rory McIlroy who currently holds the final qualifying place.
Meanwhile, Detry fired rounds of 66-65-68-67 and moved himself into contention as he bids to become Belgium’s third golfer to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup following Nicolas Colsaerts in 2012 and Thomas Pieters in 2016.
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Englishman Ian Poulter finished in a tie for fourth and in turn boosted his chances of a seventh Ryder Cup bow, after a stunning final round 63 fired the ‘Postman’ up the leaderboard.
He now sits in 23rd position on the European Points List with 1,657.78 points and in 13th place on the World Points List with 146.12 points.
World Number One and 2018 Ryder Cup rookie Jon Rahm finished in solo seventh place and maintains his spot at the top of both the European and World Points Lists.
As it stands Rahm (8,995.82 points), Tommy Fleetwood (5,248.32 points), Tyrrell Hatton (5,045.96 points) and McIlroy (4,443.77 points) fill the automatic places on the European Points List.
Viktor Hovland (293.06 points), Paul Casey (270.19 points), Fitzpatrick (269.76 points), Westwood (236.51 points) and Victor Perez (187.37 points) currently occupy the World Points List spots.
Pádraig Harrington will decide on his three Captain’s Picks after the conclusion of the BMW PGA Championship – the third Rolex Series event of the season - at Wentworth Golf Club during the week of September 13, 2021.
There will be more points on offer this week as the world’s best golfers decent on Royal St. George’s for The 149th Open – the fourth and final Major of the year.
