There is more than just a trophy up for grabs at this week's Made in Denmark with the final automatic qualifying spot for the Ryder Cup Team due to be settled at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.
Captain Thomas Bjørn already knows seven of his team and the remaining five will be decided in the next seven days as Europe get ready to fight to win the Cup back at Le Golf National.
Thorbjørn Olesen currently holds the final automatic place but the Dane could be overhauled by Matthew Fitzpatrick or Eddie Pepperell should either Englishman lift the trophy in Silkeborg.
Should Fitzpatrick win, Olesen would need to finish better than a tie for seventh with two others to keep him at bay, while a top 12 finish would hold off the challenge of Pepperell.
These guys are under a lot of pressure already this week and I just want them to go and play their best and try to make the Team - Thomas Bjørn
Bjørn will then name his four Captain's Picks on September 5 and the Great Dane - a three-time Ryder Cup winning player himself - knows that the pressure is on.
“These guys are under a lot of pressure already this week and I just want them to go and play their best and try to make the Team,” he said.
“My focus at the moment is on three days at the end of September and nothing else really matters. I took this role to be there for 12 players and my focus is solely on that job. I am really enjoying that.”
Here, we take a look at how some of the players chasing down Olesen and hoping for picks are feeling ahead of the Made in Denmark.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
“I know what I need to do. I've seen the permutations to get automatic qualification, this week is a big week as is next week. I know Thomas is announcing his picks next Wednesday, if I can put in a good performance here and then show the signs that I'm playing well then you never know. I think everyone has got in their own mind who is in Thomas' mind and who deserves a pick and who is on the fringes. A good week this week and hopefully I can push myself into the final places. This has been my main goal, to make this Team, I've become good friends with Thomas and to play for his Team in France would be amazing.”
Thomas Pieters
“Everybody knows what I have to do, I know it very well as well. I've just got to focus on Thursday and take every day as it comes. Play well, there's not much else you can do, right? Thorbjørn has to be on the Team, he's on it right now. There is so many good guys playing good golf right now so it's going to be really tough for Thomas.”
Eddie Pepperell
“Of all the events that I really enjoy watching in golf the Ryder Cup is number one. I wouldn't know, you'd have to ask the players that have done both but I suspect winning the Ryder Cup is probably the greatest achievement you can have in golf, beyond maybe winning a Major. I think we all know what personal success feels like and there is obviously some satisfying elements to it but there is also some slightly depressing ones at times, whereas when you win in a team it's a completely different feel and probably the most magical feeling you can have in sport. It obviously is a goal, it's a dream, whether it's this one or down the road. It’s mad to think that two years ago at this event I was really struggling and this was in the middle of a run of events where I ended up losing my card. Now, two years on, here I am with a chance to qualify for the Ryder Cup. It’s a crazy game. There’s a lot on the line this week. It’s good for us and it’s good for the event that there’s something on the line. Playing with Thomas as well for the first two days should be fun and lots to look forward to here this week.”
