Wildcard race hots up but McGinley energised by Europe’s big guns

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - AUGUST 27: Todd Clements of England poses with the Championship Trophy after winning the D+D Real Czech Masters at Albatross Golf Resort on August 27, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Paul McGinley reckons European skipper Luke Donald will be happy to see a host of form players battling for his six wildcards and most of his big guns firing a month away from the Ryder Cup.

Donald will name his six picks next week and after watching Matt Wallace push Todd Clements all the way to the line in the D+D REAL Czech Masters and the likes of Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Hojgaard, Sami Valmaki, Ludvig Aberg and Yannick Paul all finishing in the top 10, he has no shortage of candidates.

"It keeps coming along nicely," McGinley said from the weather-delayed Tour Championship in Atlanta, where Viktor Hovland claimed a five-shot win, the $18 million FedExCup and a move to fourth in the world behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.

"There's no doubt America is very strong, let's not get too giddy here. The guys played great over in Czechoslovakia (sic) this week, and Luke would be very happy with that, you know, the guys down the end."

McGinley is more interested in the form of Europe's top players and the presence of Hovland, Rahm, McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka and Tyrrell Hatton in Atlanta bodes well for Europe's chances.

"We'll win this Ryder Cup by the top players playing really well," McGinley said on Sky Sports. "And as much as it's great to see the guys in Czech pushing to make the team and rookies trying to make it, I'm more concerned about where our top players' form is and I've been quietly impressed this week."

Clements closed with a nine-under 63 to claim his maiden European title in Prague after Wallace (67) missed a nine-footer for birdie at the last to force a playoff on 22-under.

Wallace can’t qualify for Rome at this week's Omega European Masters, where Shane Lowry needs a solid performance to silence any doubts about his candidacy, but he can make a statement.

MacIntyre remains in the hot seat after closing with two 66s to tie for fourth on 17-under, but world rankings expert Nosferatu calculates that only Yannik Paul (3-way T3), Adrian Meronk (two-way T2), Victor Perez (solo 2nd), Rasmus Hojgaard (win) and Adrian Otaegui (win) can deny him the final spot.

After finishing solo third on 18-under, Nicolai Højgaard can also force his way into Donald's wildcard plans.

John Murphy (72) tied for 39th in Prague on 10-under with Pádraig Harrington's (71) wildcard hopes fading after he finished joint 62nd on five-under.

Meanwhile, Conor Purcell jumped 21 spots to 31st in the Road to Mallorca rankings after clinching a career-best, four-way tie for second in the weather-reduced Dormy Open, two shots behind South African Jacques Kruyswijk.

Kruyswijk, one of several players who had to return to the course to complete round three, birdied his final two holes to card a four-under 63 and win his maiden title by two shots in Sweden.