Shane Lowry looks to be in with a fantastic chance of being part of the team tasked with what is now one of the biggest challenges in elite golf, as Europe look to win an away Ryder Cup in New York next year.
Luke Donald did an outstanding job to lead his side to victory in Rome in the previous Ryder Cup, so it was no surprise that the former world number one was given the chance to retain the trophy at Bethpage Black. However, his men are looking to become only the second team to win an away Ryder Cup since the turn of the millennium.
Europe were handed a record hammering at Whistling Straits back in 2021, so it makes a lot of sense that big changes have been made to the qualifying criteria, with much more stock put in performances on the PGA Tour. Only the majors now earn more qualifying points than the signature events and the FedEx Cup play-offs.
Lee Westwood has criticised the changes, noting that anyone only playing on the DP World Tour is highly unlikely to be able to make the team. Meanwhile, there are still no points to be gained from LIV Golf events.
Shane Lowry reacts to changes to qualifying for European Ryder Cup team
It is arguably an ominous sign for the DP World Tour. But speaking in his press conference ahead of The Tour Championship, Shane Lowry insisted that he thinks that Team Europe have made a really good decision.
“I think the new points system that Luke and Edoardo and the tour have come up with, I think might have favoured guys like us, not favoured but we don’t need to go chasing as much as we used to in Europe anymore,” he said.
“Back before, you used to have go play the big tournaments just to try and chase points because you’re trying to make the team on both sides, whereas we’re obviously getting points for all of the events over here now, which is amazing. I think it’s a great thing, and I think Luke just wants the 12 best players on the team, and to be honest, I just want the 12 best players on the team, I just hope I’m one of them.”
Big questions ahead of 2027
The qualification criteria is definitely likely to benefit Europe’s hopes of producing the kind of performance which allows them to bring the Samuel Ryder trophy back across the Atlantic. Ultimately, the more players comfortable with playing in the States, the better for the visitors.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Lowry play the majority of their golf on the PGA Tour, so they will be considerably more comfortable than a rookie who has largely only played on the DP World Tour.
But it is no surprise that Westwood is concerned, with the DP World Tour already seemingly well on its way to being a feeder tour to the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy is the current Race to Dubai leader; yet, apart from the majors and the Scottish Open, he has not played a DP World Tour event since January.
Perhaps the criteria will change again for 2027 when the Ryder Cup returns to Europe, but it definitely appears to be a system which boosts Donald’s side’s hopes of winning next year – as Lowry has suggested.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
