Ian Poulter was the only person to make a move in the European Ryder Cup rankings this week, as he displaced Sergio Garcia into 12th position on the world list.
The Englishman finished in a tie for 12th, two shots behind Tommy Fleetwood, and now looks likely to push Paul Casey for the last of four automatic qualifying spots on the World Points List.
Regardless of his form over the next two events, Poulter is almost certain to line up in September with form now adding to his experience as one of the best ever players in the competition.
The 42-year-old has appeared in five Cups with four winning experiences including his stunning role at the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
To date, Poulter has accumulated 13 points including 4 from 4 in that comeback back in 2012 as he continues his own comeback story which took full flight at The Players in 2017. After dropping outside of the world’s top 200, he recalled his Medinah putter and has gone on to not only reclaim his tour card but win again after topping the field at the Houston Open in 2018.
Casey will have to keep up his form at Firestone CC this week as the WGC-Bridgestone is one of the final events to secure points. Poulter isn’t the only European star looking to chase down Casey with Ross Fisher, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Russell Knox, Thorbjørn Olesen, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson all in the hunt.
Casey’s nearest challengers are Fitzpatrick and Poulter, however with Major winners also in the chasing pack in Garcia and Stenson, it could be an exciting fortnight in the points race.
In-form players in the Ryder Cup run in have always been a talking point for Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn, so back to back consistency in two of the golfing calendars biggest events could certainly go a long way – whether that be by jumping into the automatic spots or by boosting chances of a wildcard pick.
Movement in the standings but no change in the current #TeamEurope line-up.
What do you think of the projected team? pic.twitter.com/l0khcy51se
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 30, 2018
As things stand, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Fleetwood make up the four qualifiers on the European points List. This is followed by Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren and Casey on the World Points List.
Bjorn then has four wildcards to select to join his team at Le Golf National in September.
