Wildcard dilemma for Bjorn
Thomas Bjørn. Picture: Getty Images
European Ryder Cup skipper Thomas Bjorn admitted he faced a wildcard dilemma even before England's Matt Wallace won a four-man playoff to clinch the Made in Denmark and stake his claim for one of four captain's picks.
After local hero Thorbjørn Olesen expressed relief at clinching the last of eight automatic spots, Wallace birdied five of his last six holes in a closing 67 to match fellow Englishmen Steven Brown, Jonathan Thomson and Lee Westwood on 19-under par.
Wallace (28) then birdied the par-four 18th twice in sudden-death to clinch his third win of the season, denying Brown on his second visit after Westwood and Thomson were eliminated with pars the first time around.
With Olesen one of five rookies qualifying automatically alongside Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren and Jon Rahm, Bjorn hinted before the playoff that he still had at least one niggling doubt about his four wildcards.
“I am pretty set on two or three names, that’s for sure,” said Bjorn, who will sit down with his vice-captains after the non-counting Dell Technologies Championship finishes in Boston today. "Then we have still got a bit of discussion to do and golf from America to watch over the next few days.
"Then we will see. I am pretty much there in my head on how I see this team being and how I want to mix and match everyone. But there's still one little doubt in my head."
Experienced Ryder Cup players Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Rafa Cabrera Bello are considered the front-runners to earn wildcards but Wallace’s impressive performance leaves Bjorn with a host of names needing picks.
They include 2016 team members Matthew Fitzpatrick, Thomas Pieters, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia as well as Irish Open champion Russell Knox and England’s Eddie Pepperell.
"As I said all along, you have got to balance out the team and I have got a lot of thinking to do over the next couple of days but I am getting there in my head," Bjorn said minutes before Wallace completed an eye-catching victory.
The captain was the focus of the television cameras throughout the playoff, which he watched alongside Keith Pelley, the European Tour's CEO.
And both had mobile phones at hand, no doubt ready to read the Whatsapp messages from their Ryder Cup group.
Olesen was in direct competition with Fitzpatrick and Pepperell for the last available automatic qualifying spot, but the English duo both had to win the event to stand a chance of leapfrogging Olesen on the World Points List.
Olesen is the fourth and final player to make the team via the World List, joining Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Alex Noren; while Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood qualified from the European Points List.
Bjørn said: “First of all I want to congratulate the eight players who have automatically qualified for The 2018 Ryder Cup Team. They have all played some incredible golf to make it, and every single one of them is a world-class golfer who will represent Europe with pride and commitment. I am honoured and extremely proud to be their Captain.”
Europe’s Captain will now turn his attention to completing his 12-man team on Wednesday when he announces his four Wild Card picks. That will be a tough task with so many talented players available, but it is a problem Bjørn would rather have than not.
“It’s a great position to be in,” he agreed. “A lot of guys are playing well. We're in a situation where we're going to make some guys happy and we're going to let some guys down, but that’s the way it is and the way it has always been. But there is no doubt that myself and the Vice Captains will go with the decision we feel is right.
As for Olesen, he added: "It's been a tough few weeks for him and I think he deserves his place. He's been strong on the golf course he's done all the right things and he thoroughly deserves to be in this team."
While Fitzpatrick closed with a 66 to tie for seventh in an event he had to win, Wallace knows his third victory of the season will give Bjorn pause for thought.
“I've stepped up to the mark and I've shown him exactly what I'm about,” said Wallace, who birdied the 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th to make the playoff after Westwood got to 20-under but bogeyed the 13th and struggled coming home.
“If he doesn't pick me, then that's absolutely fine but if he does, he knows he's going to get exactly that in his team.
“I set myself positions where I have to do things and, more often than not, I get it done."
Bjørn’s eight qualifiers are naturally delighted to have made the team and are relishing the opportunity to reclaim the Ryder Cup in Paris in four weeks’ time.
Matt Wallace with the Made in Denmark trophy
Molinari said: “It’s going to be a great honour to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup again. One of the many benefits of winning The Open was that I knew then that I was going to be in the team so it has been a very enjoyable qualification for me this year. I think all of the guys will say the same - I am excited to be part of Team Europe again and will do everything I can to help Thomas and the Team try to win back the Ryder Cup.”
Rose said: “It’s always a long wait for the Ryder Cup and then all of a sudden you realise it’s upon us and a lot of our focus now will turn to doing everything we can for our Captain and Team to bring that trophy on European soil. It’s going to be a great Ryder Cup with two very good teams going head-to-head and it feels like it’s going to be a very close battle this year in Paris.”
Tyrrell Hatton: “I’m glad that it’s finally here. I obviously managed to get a lot of my qualification points early on the process so it has been a long wait for me. So to be able to finally get there and get going will be a bit of a relief in some ways. My game is in good shape too so hopefully I can be there to help the Thomas and the Team whenever they need me.”
Tommy Fleetwood: “I’m so happy, honoured and extremely proud to have qualified for the team. I absolutely believe it will be one of the best Ryder Cups ever with the quality of both teams being as high as they are. The atmosphere will be amazing at Le Golf National. Honestly can’t wait for this experience!”
Rahm said: “I have to say that I am really excited to make my Ryder Cup debut for Team Europe. I have spoken to a lot of the guys about it and everyone tells me how amazing of an experience it will be. Both Teams look to be very strong and hopefully we can come out on top.”
McIlroy said: “You can definitely feel the Ryder Cup build-up, especially now that we have our eight qualifiers confirmed. I think we have the makings of a very strong Team and I know that Thomas and his Vice-Captains will think long and hard about the best four players to add to our group on Wednesday. I think Thomas is going to be a great captain. I chatted with him on the phone twice last week, just talking about a few things. He's keeping everyone in the loop.”
Alex Noren: “I think we have a great team already and I am sure Thomas and the Vice-Captains will add even more strength to the Team next week. I’m looking forward to playing my first Ryder Cup – it is something I have thought about for a long time. I’m very happy that we are playing at Le Golf National too – having won around there this year I obviously can play well around there so hopefully I can help the Team win as many points as possible.”
Olesen said: “Relief is my first emotion, that's for sure. It's been a tough week, a long week. A lot of things on my mind. It's been difficult but it's been great to learn that different kind of pressure. I think I handled it pretty well. There were a couple of things that could have been better, but it was a tough week and I feel pretty happy now. To make the team automatically probably makes it that little bit more special, but it's nice to place yourself in the team, and being inside that top eight will probably make me feel a little bit more comfortable when I get to The Ryder Cup. I'm happy and I'm very proud of myself, the way I've done things this summer and I've handled myself.”
