Robert MacIntyre. DP World Tour

The final automatic spot on Luke Donald’s European team for the Ryder Cup showdown with the United States will come down to the final qualifying event — this weeks’ Omega European Masters ‚ with six players still in the running.

After finishing T-4 fourth place at the Czech Masters on Sunday, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre holds a slender lead in the European Points List, narrowly increasing his lead over closest challenger Yannik Paul.

The Scot birdied his final hole to finish his week on 17-under, gaining 85.42 points in the Czech Republic to increase his total on the European Points List to 1828.99.

His top five at Albatross Golf Resort also helped to increase his advantage over Yannik Paul, who began his week just 90.67 points behind MacIntyre and finished one behind him in 10th place. It means Paul gained 50 points to up his tally to 1702.9, which leaves him 126.09 points adrift of the man who displaced him in the automatic spot with one week to go.

MacIntyre and Paul are two of six players in this week’s field that can end the week in Donald’s line-up. They all have necessary scenarios to make that happen, but Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, Rasmus Hojgaard and Adrian Otaegui all have a mathematical chance of claiming that third and final place.

They will all tee up at Crans-sur-Sierre on Thursday knowing that the fate of their Ryder Cup place is in their hands, whether that is doing enough to qualify, or enough to impress Donald in the last event of the qualifying period.

Tommy Fleetwood, who is currently occupying the third spot on the World’s Points List, could have also qualified with a win but is not competing in Switzerland this week.

Scenarios: What each player needs to do to win

  • MacIntyre could still be caught even if he finishes second, so needs to win to absolutely guarantee his place, but only a top-three finish from fellow contenders will threaten his position.
  • Paul will qualifies if he wins. He would need to finish at least tied for third with two others, or better, to have a chance.
  • Meronk needs to finish in a tie for second with just one player or better to have a chance
  • Perez needs to finish in second place alone, or to win to have a chance
  • Hojgaard needs to win to have a chance
  • Otaegui needs to win to have a chance

European Points List
Player Points
Rory McIlroy (Q) 4033.5
Jon Rahm (Q) 3417.23
Robert MacIntyre 1828.99
Yannik Paul 1702.9
Adrian Meronk 1620.59
Victor Perez 1571.03
Tommy Fleetwood 1534.37
Rasmus Hojgaard 1435.51
Adrian Otaegui 1435.51
Shane Lowry 1290.23