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Three European Ryder Cup players with a point to prove at the BMW PGA Championship

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
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The European team have decided to prepare for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black by playing in the BMW PGA Championship this week.

Even the LIV golfers, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, will be at Wentworth, as Sepp Straka is the only player skipping the event (for personal reasons).

Captain Luke Donald is lucky that the majority of his team are in fine form ahead of the Ryder Cup, not least Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.

However, we have named three European players who have a point to prove at the BMW PGA Championship.

Tyrrell Hatton acknowledges the fans during round two of the Irish Open at the K Club
Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images

Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton had an excellent major championship season, finishing in the top 20 at The Masters, the US Open, and The Open.

However, the Englishman was underwhelming on the LIV Golf tour, achieving only three top 10s and none in the last five tournaments.

Hatton also struggled at last week’s Irish Open, finishing 15 strokes behind McIlroy in a tie for 42nd place at The K Club.

He would really benefit from a solid result at the BMW PGA Championship, as it would prove to Luke Donald that he can be trusted to play in three-plus matches at the Ryder Cup.

Shane Lowry acknowledges the crowd after finishing his round during the final round of the Amgen Irish Open
Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry played much better than he scored at the Irish Open last week, as he finished in a five-way tie for 15th position.

The 38-year-old’s putting let him down at The K Club, which is always a concern heading into a matchplay competition.

A former BMW PGA Championship winner, Lowry needs to gain some confidence with the flatstick at Wentworth this week.

His reward for playing well could even be getting to play multiple matches alongside his good friend McIlroy at Bethpage Black.

Rasmus Hojgaard acknowledges the crowd on the 11th green during Day One of the Betfred British Masters
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Rasmus Hojgaard

Rasmus Hojgaard is the only new player in the European Ryder Cup team this year, replacing his twin brother Nicolai.

Hojgaard narrowly beat Lowry to the final qualification spot after finishing second at the Danish Golf Championship and joint-14th at the British Masters.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season, which included making the cut at all four majors, but rookies often struggle at the Ryder Cup.

He will be nervous either way, but a quality display in front of Donald and his European teammates at Wentworth would give him a boost.