The Ryder Cup will dominate the golf news agenda once the PGA Tour Championship and DP World Tour’s British Masters culminate on a weekend where Shane Lowry has much to ponder.
The 2019 Open champion and two-time Ryder Cup participant has made no secret of his affinity for the biennial competition which pits the best of Europe against the USA.
Luke Donald returns as captain of Team Europe for a second time, something unprecedented as they look to win on American soil at Bethpage in September.
Lowry played his part in Rome two years ago, winning a point for his team alongside playing partner Sepp Straka before adding another half-point in one-on-one competition against Jordan Spieth.
The 38-year-old would put the experience on a par alongside his famous 2019 Open win at Royal Portrush, as Europe bounced back from the 19-9 drubbing they suffered at Whistling Straits in 2019.
Shane Lowry risks losing Ryder Cup qualification spot
The selection process for Donald’s 12-man team features six automatic qualifiers and six wildcard picks, with five of the former already confirmed.
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Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Bob MacIntyre have all assured their places via the points system which determines the automatic half-dozen.
The sixth and final place, currently held by Lowry, could yet change with Rasmus Hojgaard boasting one more opportunity to leapfrog the Offaly native.
18 July 2025; Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during day two of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Antrim. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Danish golfer Hojgaard could emulate his brother, Nicolai, by making the team for the first time if he is to finish 29th or higher at the British Masters on the DP World Tour this weekend.
He has shown good form at the event in the past, finishing 16th and third in the last two stagings of the competition.
Lowry will be hoping that Hojgaard, whose brother Nicolai played in the 2023 Ryder Cup, will stumble in his bid to gain automatic qualification.
Two-time Ryder Cup wildcard Lowry will have to rely on a third pick of that nature if he is surpassed by the Dane as he competes with the PGA Tour’s elite for the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Europe are looking to win the Ryder Cup trophy on US soil for the first time since 2012, when they came from 10-6 down to win 14.5-13.5 in what is known as the ‘Miracle at Medinah’.
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