Ryder Cup Europe, European Junior Ryder Cup Captain Paul Lawrie and the European Golf Association have confirmed the selection process for The 2020 European Junior Ryder Cup team.

The six boys and six girls, who will take on the USA at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, Wisconsin, from September 21-22, 2020, will be selected based on performances in international events in the coming season.

Boys and girls who are citizens of a European country as defined by IGF’s Nationality Policy, under 18 years of age on 1 January 2020, and who are not enrolled to play college golf in the USA during 2020 are eligible to participate in The 2020 Junior Ryder Cup.

Three boys and three girls will earn their places on the team through a points-based Order of Merit system. Using the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the Order of Merit will award points based on finishing position in these events. The qualification process will end following the R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships on August 15 and 16, 2020, respectively.

The remaining six players will be selected by Paul Lawrie, with performances specifically in international events, including the European Young Masters, and positions in the EGA European Amateur Golf Rankings expected to prove important in the decision. Selection in the Jacques Léglise and Junior Vagliano Trophies will also be highly regarded, as will strong performances in previous editions of The Junior Ryder Cup.

“I’m excited for the qualification process to begin,” said Lawrie. “The prospect of seeing how Europe’s best young golfers perform over the course of the next ten months or so is fascinating, and I’m looking forward to getting to some of these events to watch as many as possible in action.”

The Junior Ryder Cup, held biennially in the build-up to The Ryder Cup, sees the best male and female junior amateurs from Europe and the USA go head-to-head in a mixed event.

Many of world golf’s biggest starts have in the past featured in the junior competition before excelling at The Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy both succeeded in the event before also winning The Ryder Cup, while Suzanne Peterson and Carlota Ciganda both triumphed as amateurs before lifting the Solheim Cup.

Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion and two-time Ryder Cup player, will captain Team Europe in Milwaukee from September 21-22.

The Scotsman, an eight-time European Tour winner, represented Europe at The 1999 Ryder Cup and was also a member of the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ team, which staged a monumental comeback on the final day to retain The Ryder Cup, winning 14 ½ - 13 ½ on American soil in 2012.

The 50-year-old’s involvement in junior golf started in 2001 with the launch of the Paul Lawrie Foundation, which provides opportunities for juniors to start playing golf. Its main goal is to encourage as many young people to play golf as possible.

The Junior Ryder Cup, held in the days before the Ryder Cup, sees the best male and female junior amateurs from Europe and the USA go head-to-head in a mixed event.

The biennial contest has seen many stars from world golf feature in the junior competition before excelling at The Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy both succeeded in the event before also winning The Ryder Cup, while Suzanne Peterson and Carlota Ciganda both triumphed as amateurs before lifting the Solheim Cup.

“As soon as the call came in, I didn’t need long to think about taking on the role,” said Lawrie. “To be able to lead a team of the best juniors in Europe against America will be a completely novel experience for me. In terms of how I see the game growing, it’s an important role.

“It’s going to be full-on over the next ten months. I’m really looking forward to getting to some events during the year and watching the kids play. I’m absolutely delighted that I have been asked to Captain the Junior Ryder Cup team.

“My wife, Marian, and I started the Foundation to get as many kids into the game as we possibly could. I bring a huge enthusiasm for junior golf to the role; it’s where the game needs to be – sadly that still gets lost on some members at golf clubs not treating juniors how they deserve to be treated. Today’s juniors are tomorrow’s adults, and that’s an important message.”

Boys’ Events:

Tournament Date (2020) Venue

Spanish International Amateur Championship (Copa S.M. El Rey) 26 Feb – 1 Mar Real Club Sevilla Golf, Spain
French International Boys’ Championship (Carlhian Trophy) 9 – 13 Apr Golf des Aisses, France
Lytham Trophy 1 – 3 May Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, England
German Boys’ Open 4 – 6 Jun GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany
The Amateur Championship 15 – 20 Jun Royal Birkdale & West Lancashire GC, England
European Amateur Championship 24 – 27 Jun Golf du Médoc Resort, France
European Amateur Team Championship 7 – 11 Jul Hilversumsche GC, Netherlands
European Boys’ Team Championship (Jean-Louis Dupont Trophy) 7 – 11 Jul Upsala GC, Sweden
R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship 11 – 16 Aug Moortown GC & Alwoodley GC, England

Girls’ Events:

Tournament Date (2020) Venue

Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship 29 Jan – 1 Feb Montado Golf Resort, Portugal
Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship (Copa S.M. La Reina) 26 Feb – 1 Mar RCG Tenerife, Spain
French International Girls’ Championship (Esmond Trophy) 9 – 13 Apr Saint Cloud GC, France
German Girls’ Open 4 – 6 Jun GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany
The Women’s Amateur Championship 23 – 27 Jun Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC, Scotland
European Ladies’ Team Championship 7 – 11 Jul GC Escorpión, Spain
European Girls’ Team Championship 7 – 11 Jul ROSA Private GC, Poland
European Ladies’ Amateur Championship 22 – 25 Jul Kytäjä Golf, Finland
R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship 11 – 15 Aug Southport & Ainsdale GC, England

European Countries for Junior Ryder Cup European Team Eligibility

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
San Marino
Serbia
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom