The European Tour has today confirmed that the quest to qualify for Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup team will conclude at the Italian Open on Sunday, August 31 next year.
The tournament – which has been a fixture on the schedule since the inception of The European Tour in 1972 and which has seen some of the greatest names in the history of the game lift the title – will bring the curtain down on the race for the nine automatic places in Captain Paul McGinley’s team for Gleneagles; the first four coming from the European Points List with the remaining five coming from the World Points List.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony of the 70° Italian Open LINDT this afternoon, where Julien Quesne lifted the title, Italian Golf Federation President Franco Chimenti spoke of his nation’s delight that the 2014 Italian Open will be the last qualifying event.
He said: “This is a great boost for the Italian Open, and we are already counting down to what I am sure will be a very exciting week both for Italian golf and for The Ryder Cup. Of course, it would also be very special if we were able to welcome some of our own players to the team next year to follow in the footsteps of Costantino Rocca and Francesco and Edoardo Molinari.”
McGinley, who will be joined in Scotland over the next two days by US Captain Tom Watson to take part in the celebrations to mark a Year To Go to The 2014 Ryder Cup, said: “All along the journey to The Ryder Cup there are significant milestones, and the tournament where the points race will conclude is a major one of those.
“The Italian Open is steeped in history and is one of the great championships on The European Tour, and I look forward to being in Italy when the nine automatic qualifiers are determined.”
McGinley will name his three wild card selections the following day – Monday September 1, 2014 – with the venue for that announcement being confirmed at a later date.
Francesco Molinari, who has been a part of Europe’s last two Ryder Cup teams that triumphed in Wales in 2010 and the USA in 2012, welcomed the announcement.
He said: “It’s great news for the Italian Open. You only have to look at how successful the tournament has been this week, and hopefully The Ryder Cup Points finishing here will add to its profile. There is a long way to go, but it would be pretty special to qualify for the team at the Italian Open – that is certainly the goal.”