Thorbjorn Olesen Moves Into Ryder Cup Spot

The Dane's fourth place finish at the Nordea Masters puts him in the final automatic spot

Thorbjorn Olesen Moves Into Ryder Cup Spot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Dane's fourth place finish at the Nordea Masters puts him in the final automatic spot

Thorbjorn Olesen Moves Into Ryder Cup Spot

With just two weeks to go until the first eight European players are confirmed for the Ryder Cup, Thorbjorn Olesen has moved into the final spot.

The Dane has been in great form this summer and his fourth place finish in Sweden was enough to put him inside the top 8 via the World Points list.

Olesen won the Italian Open in June, was T2nd at the BMW International Open, T6th at the Irish Open, T12th at the Open, T3rd at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and then 4th at the Nordea Masters.

He has moved ahead of Ian Poulter who had leapfrogged Paul Casey last week.

Poulter was overtaken by Rafa Cabrera Bello as well this week after the Spaniard finished T11th at the Wyndham Championship.

Cabrera Bello was also T10th at the USPGA Championship and T17th the week before at the Bridgestone.

Paul Casey took the week off after missing the cut at the USPGA and is another man fighting it out for the final place on Thomas Bjorn's side with just two weeks left until the final eight are confirmed.

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Russell Knox and Eddie Pepperell are also close in what looks to be a thrilling finish to the qualifying.

Experienced Ryder Cuppers Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson are two men who will not be making the side on merit so will therefore need captain's picks.

Garcia was T24th at the Wyndham whilst Stenson was T20th - both will need to show some form in the next couple of weeks to have a chance, you would feel.

To conclude, one of Olesen, Poulter, Casey, Cabrera Bello, Knox and Pepperell will get that final spot, whilst Garcia, Stenson, Thomas Pieters, Paul Dunne and Matt Wallace will be joining all but one of those men as potential wildcard picks.

To say Thomas Bjorn will have some difficult decisions to make very soon is an understatement!

Bjorn picks his four wildcards on Wednesday 5th September live on Sky Sports Golf at 2pm.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV