Rasmus Hojgaard did not qualify in the PLAY OFF -T FEDEX CUPAnd he didn’t even win British Betfred masters organized by Sir Nick Faldo on Sunday in the Belfry Golf Course. But when he came in to end in his last round 71 to connect for the 13th place, his mission was accomplished.
Hojgaard entered the week in seventh place in the Team Europe’s Ryder Cup rankings. Without points allocated to the Tour Championship, Hojgaard had to link for 29 or better this week to kidnap the sixth and Automatic qualification location And mark his ticket to Bethpage Black in September. After securing his place, Hojgaard pumped his fist and hugged his kettle before receiving a call from Captain Luke Donald.
“Welcome to the European team!” Said Donald. “How do you feel?”
“Feels amazing,” replied Hojgaard. “I don’t think I’ve been stressed before, playing the last holes, but yes, it was very good!”
Sunday was a stressful trip to Rasmus. He opened with birds at 2, 3 and 4 before making four Bogeys over his next eight holes to increase the pressure that descends into the stretch. But a bird in Par-5 15 gave him an incentive, and he directed him home to secure his first place of Ryder Cup.
“I don’t know what to feel right now,” Hojgaard said after round. “I’ve been so stressed on the course today. I was saying to Tom, my kadi there, I don’t know how I will be able to do so. You know, I managed to do a good four at the end there. So yes, I’m over the moon now.”
Hojgaard jumped over Shane Lowry in the ranking to secure the last automatic qualification place. He joins Rory Mcilroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert Macintre as the first six to provide Spots for Team Europe.
Hojgaard was not a member of the 2023 team that defeated Americans in Rome, but he was present at Marco Simone. With his twin brother, Nicolai, on the list, Donald and his staff chose to bring Rasmus on board as a wrong driver so he could be around the team.
While Hojgaard jumped Lowry in the rankings, the Irish will almost certainly win a captain’s choice from Donald. Europeans are expected to bring 11 of the 12 members from their 2023 winning team, with Rasmus replacing Nicolai as the only difference. Donald will make his six captain’s elections on September 1st. Jon Rahm, Victor Hovland, Ludwig åberg, Sepp Straka, Matt Fitzpatrick and Lowry are favorites to hear their names called that day.
Rasmus Hojgaard was considered a potential candidate to take the election of the last captain if he did not qualify on Sunday. But with Hojgaard closed now on the team, any hope for the likes of Sergio Garcia, Marco Penge or Harry Hall is likely to break down as the Donald captain’s elections now appear to be marked for six 2023 team members.
