Tommy Fleetwood climbed a staggering 75 places on the European Points List after his victory at the 2022 Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
Fleetwood’s successful defence after winning in 2019 – the last time the event was played – moves the two-time Team Europe player into fifth on the European Points List on 653.59 points. He also rises 11 places on the World Points List into eighth on 30.67 points.
After a thrilling battle with Ryan Fox, Fleetwood’s final round five under par 67 was enough to see off the New Zealander - who is currently second in the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex after a stellar year - and make a huge move up the European Ryder Cup rankings as he looks to qualify for Luke Donald’s 2023 European Ryder Cup team.
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Fleetwood said: "It's been a great week. I already had so many amazing memories of this place, such a great connection to it.
"It was such a lovely feeling coming down the back nine with a chance. You draw on the good memories that you have round somewhere you've won. I felt good all day.
"It was touch and go on Thursday morning (whether he would play after being ill earlier in the week), then Saturday when we were up early (to finish the second round) I felt like I had nothing in me. Really poorly again.
"The doctor here has been amazing. I just gave his little son the winning golf ball. Without him there was not a chance on Thursday I'd have played."We didn't know what was happening whether it would be three rounds, two, so I just thought if I could keep moving, keep playing... and I was playing well.
“Foxy played fantastic when we played together on Thursday and again on Sunday. It was lovely to go against one of the best players in the world at the moment on the back nine.”
Thomas Detry improved his standing on the World Points List, despite a disappointing final day in South Africa.
The Belgian entered Sunday tied at the top of the leaderboard with Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, however a final round five over par 77 saw Detry finish in a tie for 13th.
That was still enough to move up one place and into the second automatic qualifying place on the World Points List with 34.51 points.
Meanwhile, on the PGA TOUR, Alex Noren finished tied fourth at the Cadence Bank Houston Open thanks to a final round 68 in which the Swede hit 14 out of 18 greens in regulation.
This moves Noren up eight places on the World Points List and into seventh with 30.91 points as he looks to represent Team Europe for a second time after a successful debut in 2018 at Le Golf National, Paris, France.
As it stands Jon Rahm (850.00 points), Shane Lowry (835.00 points) and Rory McIlroy (721.50 points) would claim the three automatic qualifying spots on the European Points List, with Seamus Power (34.57 points), Detry (34.51 points) Robert MacIntyre (34.45 points) currently sitting in the top three positions on the World Points List.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will take place between Sept. 25 – Oct. 1 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy.
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