WHILE Viktor Hovland wore the widest grin seen on a golf course for a very long time after sealing FedEx Cup glory and the $18m cheque that went with it in Atlanta on Sunday night, you can bet Luke Donald was also smiling from ear-to-ear while watching on from afar.
The European Ryder Cup captain will have been thrilled to see one of his star men back up his success in the BMW Championship with another stellar performance at the Tour Championship, and he will be quietly thinking his team is coming together very nicely.
America’s battering of their visitors at Whistling Straits two years ago led to forecasts of years of US dominance, and while Zach Johnson has a powerful line-up at his disposal for next month’s renewal in Rome, the perceived gap between the sides is closing, with Europe’s big men in top form.
Read More:
[ Malone golfer Matt McLean brings experience to Walker Cup challengeOpens in new window ]
Hovland is arguably the best player in the game right now, Rory McIlroy has been the model of consistency for months, Jon Rahm is Jon Rahm, while Tommy Fleetwood is in great form.
Tyrrell Hatton and Hovland sealed their spots on the team at the close of play at East Lake on Sunday night, joining Rahm and McIIroy, who had both already qualified.
As it stands, Fleetwood holds the last automatic place on the World Points list, with Matt Fitzpatrick just behind and in with a big chance of overtaking his fellow Englishman at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland from Thursday.
That pair are certainties for Rome regardless, with one qualifying and the other sure of a pick from their skipper, who has six wildcards at his disposal.
Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre strengthened his grip on the third and final spot on the European Points standings with a share of fourth in the Czech Masters on Sunday, although five players could still usurp him given the right set of results in the Swiss Alps over the weekend.
Donald will surely be hoping the Scot holds on to that final spot as he will want him on his side, especially as a past winner on the Marco Simone course being used a month from now.
With Shane Lowry and Justin Rose also seen as virtual certainties for a captain’s pick, it leaves the likes of Sepp Straka, Adrian Meronk, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg and possibly Matt Wallace vying for the final wildcards.
My hunch is that with Meronk and Nicolai Hojgaard also having won at Marco Simone in recent seasons, they are holding the aces at present, with Open Championship runner-up Straka yet again underlining his credentials with a strong showing at the Tour Championship.
All of those on the fringes on contention and needing to impress – bar Straka – are in the Swiss Alps for the European Masters, which gets going from Thursday morning at the famous Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Fitzpatrick hardly needs to catch Donald’s eye, and his strong FedEx Cup play-off campaign is another reason for European optimism.
Whatever the motivation for the 2022 US Open champion teeing it up in Switzerland at the end of a busy schedule, he is bound to be a factor on a course he won on in both 2017 and 2018.
As the top-ranked player in the field, there is no shock to see him chalked up as a clear favourite at 8/1 to make it a hat-trick, and if fatigue isn’t a factor, he should go very close now that he’s dropping down slightly in grade.
Those European players who ply their trade mainly on the PGA Tour tend to go well when coming back to the DP World Tour, and given his course pedigree, many will see Fitzpatrick as an each-way banker this week.
It’s hard to argue against that, although the fact this will be his fourth outing in as many weeks might mean there is a little tiredness to deal with and I’m prepared to leave him out at the price.
Those who follow him in the betting are all looking to make that Ryder Cup team, which brings serious pressure, while I’m not sure the tricky, short, tactical Crans-sur-Sierre lay-out suits the power games of the likes of Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard, even with a number of drivable par fours and short
par-fives.
There is something for everyone at this course, but the altitude means it is not a big hitter’s paradise like most modern venues.
Small greens and narrow fairways allow the strategists to shine, as two wins each for Fitzpatrick and Alex Noren in recent times underline.
Of those towards the head of the betting, Matt Wallace is the one that catches the eye at 22/1 generally, with Sky Bet, Boylesports and William Hill paying eight places and a number of other firms offering seven.
Wallace will feel he has unfinished business at Crans-sur-Sierre, having lost a play-off to Thriston Lawrence 12 months ago when he really should have won.
Since then, the Englishman has triumphed on the PGA Tour in the Dominican Republic, and while he is a streaky player he is one of the class acts in this field, and a proven winner.
Wallace was second in the Czech Republic on Sunday, denied only by a stunning final round 63 from Todd Clements, and he will have made the journey to Switzerland in confident mood, knowing that his iron play is in great shape, a key commodity in Switzerland.
Generally seen as a long shot to make the team for Rome, he might be able to play with a bit more freedom than most of those of those ahead of him in the betting, so Wallace could easily emerge as the biggest threat to Fitzpatrick’s treble hopes.
Likewise, Alex Bjork has been mentioned in passing as a Ryder Cup possible, but I’m not sure even a victory in the Alps could force Donald’s hand.
That said, a victory is plausible for possibly the most consistent DP World Tour regular, who hasn’t missed a cut since Wentworth last September.
The Swede is a short hitter, making that run of form all the more impressive, but he is getting a course to suit this week, and should go better than his 16th last year and 13th in 2021.
Bjork leads the tour for stroke average in 2023 and is second for approach play, and while he hasn’t got over the line for a title since the 2018 China Open, six top-10s in his last 10 outings would suggest a second win is close.
Like Wallace, he should be backed at 22/1 with Sky Bet, while Antoine Rozner is also worth a look at 30s with the same firm.
The enigmatic Frenchman is a tee-to-green merchant who can be let down by his putter, but things have looked better in that regard of late, with a fine top-20 in The Open followed by a 22nd in Prague on a course that is just a bit too long for him.
Crans-sur-Sierre is right up Rozner’s street, however, as a fourth last year and 13th in 2021 suggest.
Rozner closed with a 62 two years ago to show just how much he likes the venue, and he could well back up his win in Mauritius earlier this year with another success.
Finally, having just about swerved away from a bet on one Fitzpatrick, I wouldn’t put anyone off a punt on the other – Alex – at 50/1.
Generally seen as a more erratic player than his older brother, Alex has nonetheless found a real level of consistency of late, boosted by a superb 17th on his Open Championship bow in July.
Since then he has claimed a maiden Challenge Tour success in Cornwall, before finishing second to Dan Brown in the ISPS Handa Invitational at Galgorm Castle, generally seen as one of the more demanding courses on the DP World Tour.
A decent 14th in Prague last week was back-boned by finishing second on the approach play stats, which augurs well for Crans-sur-Sierre.
Debutants have won the last three Omega European Masters renewals, and the younger Fitzpatrick will be hoping to follow the trend, while he could find no better tour guide than his brother.
The pair of them could well be teeing it up together in future Ryder Cups, but for now the focus is on who will play their way on to Donald’s side for this year, a
side that is looking stronger by the week.
OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS SELECTIONS
Matt Wallace, e/w, 22/1 (General)
Alex Bjork, e/w, 22/1 (Sky Bet)
Antoine Rozner, e/w, 30/1 (Sky Bet)
Alex Fitzpatrick, e/w, 50/1 (Paddy Power)