Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari are on course to cement their Ryder Cup place but the halfway cut of the US PGA Championship has blown the qualifying race wide open.
Luke Donald, fourth on the World Points List, and Miguel Angel Jiménez, in the last automatic spot on the European Points List are both under threat after missing the cut in the season’s last Major, and with Padraig Harrington and Justin Rose also bowing out after two rounds, the door is open for a host of challengers.
Kaymer in seventh place on the combined list looks comfortable on four under par after 36 holes Whistling Straits while Molinari, the next on the list, lies a shot behind at three under par. Both have a golden opportunity to seal their place on the European Team bound for the Celtic Manor Resort from October 1-3.
Kaymer is playing beautifully and could seal his place this weekend, two weeks before the qualifying race ends. "That would be nice and then I can go on holiday the next couple of weeks, relax and prepare for The Ryder Cup," he said.
Edoardo Molinari is also making a tilt for the team going into the last two rounds, as are Ross McGowan and Paul Casey while Peter Hanson, Simon Dyson, Rhys Davies and Simon Khan are all capable of making a significant leap this weekend.
“I have looked now but have not calculated what I need to do,” said Casey. “There’s a lot to be done and lot of other factors and I can’t worry about it. I have been in this position before and my priority is this week and I am happy to make the cut.”
Harrington, however, will now have to rely on a wild card pick from Montgomerie, who could face a huge dilemma when he makes his selections on August 29 after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
A closing double bogey six sent the three-time Major winner out of the final Major of the year. Harrington, winner two years ago, had made a brilliant recovery from his opening 75, but all the hard work was undone when, distracted by a photographer, he hit his second shot into the hazard short of the 18th green.
From there he took a penalty drop, pitched ten feet past the flag and missed the bogey putt.
With a 71 for a two over aggregate he then waited to learn his fate - and an hour later it was confirmed he was out by a shot.
"It's very disappointing, but it would be silly to think that my last shot is going to cost me my place," said Harrington.
“I hope Monty is a guy who looks through things and sees stats. 16 top tens in the last year is going to be a lot of comfort. I am sure he needs some experience in that team and some older guys. I have done everything I can now and there is nothing more I can do. My majors have been poor this year but everything else has been good.
“At the end of the day, nobody who doesn’t qualify deserves automatically to be picked. I know at the end of the day it is the decision of the Captain. I have worked hard, tried hard and if I get picked I want to be ready to play and if it doesn’t happen I will be disappointed but there is not more I could have done.”
Donald admits he may be forced to rethink his schedule after failing to cement his place - he is currently fourth on the World Points list, but could see Edoardo Molinari surpass him this week.
"I would have liked to have had a good week and add some World Ranking points to what I have but it's not to be," said the World Number Seven. "Right now the plan is still to play New York but I have a couple more days to think about it."
