Like his American counterpart Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald could not avoid talking about the Ryder Cup during his pre-PGA Championship press conference. The European captain will play in the event after receiving one of 34 special invitations from the organizers.
Among the many topics related to the biennial event discussed by Donald was the case of Jon Rahm. The Spaniard’s chances of making the team have been a hot topic since he signed with LIV Golf in December 2023.
When discussing the matter, Donald avoided giving any definitive answers:
The Englishman made it clear that aspirants will have to work hard to be worthy of the call, and that they still have many opportunities to do so:
Donald also reflected on the importance of major championships in assessing player form:
The European team for the Ryder Cup will be selected using a points system to rank the players. The top 6 players will qualify directly for the team, while the other 6 will be selected by the captain with the help of his vice-captains.
Importantly, the European Ryder Cup team members must also be members of the DP World Tour. Rahm was in danger of losing his card, but managed to play the minimum number of events required in 2024 to remain eligible for the biennial event.
However, the Spaniard is still far from the top of the rankings (currently ranked 29th). The list is led by Rory McIlroy, with Tyrrell Hatton the only LIV player currently in the top 6 (4th).
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