Hojgaard’s Emotional Victory Paves Way for Europe’s Ryder Cup Team

Rasmus Hojgaard’s nail-biting final round at the Betfred British Masters has secured his spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team, joining a list of six automatic qualifiers. The 24-year-old Dane carded a one-under 71 to finish on eight under par and joint 13th, surpassing the required top-29 finish to move into sixth on the ranking list.

Hojgaard’s journey to the Ryder Cup team was far from smooth, as he struggled with a run of four bogeys in eight holes. Despite this, he managed to calm himself down and fight his way back into contention. “I knew every bogey was costly,” he said on Sky Sports. “I was aware of the situation. A couple of times I had to calm myself down and not let it spin out of control. Every hole was a tough battle.”

The emotional victory was a significant moment for Hojgaard, who was battling to secure his spot on the team. “I’ve been so stressed out on the course and I was telling my caddie I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do this,” he said. “I’m over the moon.”

Alex Noren, on the other hand, claimed the title at the British Masters with a five-under 67 on Sunday. The 43-year-old Swede shot a 65 on Saturday to catapult himself up the leaderboard and earn a one-shot victory over New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori and Nicolai Hojgaard, the twin brother of Rasmus. Noren’s victory was his second British Masters title and 11th on the DP World Tour, putting him level with Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson for the most by a Swede.

Noren’s Ryder Cup chances are now in focus, despite missing seven months of the qualification period due to a hamstring injury. The Swede shot a 65 on Saturday to catapult himself up the leaderboard and then posted a five-under 67 on Sunday to earn a one-shot victory. “It would be great, but I’m more just happy to get this win,” he said, when asked about his chances of being selected for the team.

The Ryder Cup wildcard reckoning is set to take place on 1 September, when captain Luke Donald will select six other players to complete his 12-strong team to take on the United States at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 September. Other contenders for the team include Matt Fitzpatrick, who led by one heading into the final round but closed with a 74 to finish at 10 under, and Nicolai Hojgaard, who is pushing for a wildcard spot after being a member of Donald’s team in Rome in 2023.

The selection process for the Ryder Cup team is always a closely watched event, with many players vying for a spot on the team. Jon Rahm, who won the LIV Golf individual title, looks certain to be included given his impressive performance in the 2021 Ryder Cup. The 2022 US Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, is also a strong contender, having led by one heading into the final round but ultimately falling short.

Other notable players who are likely to be considered for the team include Sepp Straka, who finished eighth on the list, just above Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Norway’s Viktor Hovland. All three played in the victory in Rome in 2023 and Donald may opt for that experience as Europe look to record a first away win in the biennial event since the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ in 2012.

The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, with a rich history and a high level of competition. Europe’s team will be looking to defend their title and continue their dominance in the biennial event.

Ryder Cup Selection Process:

6 automatic qualifiers: Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, and Rasmus Hojgaard

6 wildcard selections: to be chosen by captain Luke Donald on 1 September

Team to be announced on 1 September

Ryder Cup to be played at Bethpage Black in New York from 26-28 September