Yannik Paul insisted he was not thinking about his Ryder Cup rivals as he made an excellent start in the final event before Luke Donald finalises his 12-man team.
The German entered the week in Switzerland sitting fourth on the European Points List, knowing a win would see him make the team and that he needed a tie for third with two others or better to have any chance of qualifying automatically.
He was grouped with the two men either side of his him in the standings - Robert MacIntyre currently occupies the final spot and Adrian Meronk sits behind Paul - and outscored them both with a 64 that handed him an excellent platform on which to build in the mountains.
"Obviously there's a lot of talk going on but for me it didn't really matter who I was playing with," said Paul after seeing Meronk sign for a 67 and MacIntyre card a 68.
"So many things you can't really control. I just try to see it as a normal tournament and enjoy it, be grateful and if I feel like that I tend to play my best golf.
"So I didn't really compare myself to anyone, just try to stay in my zone and today it worked really well."
Paul bogeyed the 11th but went birdie-eagle on the 14th and 15th and picked up another shot on the 18th.
Further birdies on the second, seventh and ninth saw him cover both nines in 32 and he was glad to acclimatise quickly to the mountains.
"I played well, didn't get off to the to the best start, but then just tried to focus on myself," he said. "Started to hit the ball better and then just trusted the numbers.
"I think that's the toughest part here, picking the right clubs. Depending on the weather and how warm or cold it is the ball goes shorter or further, so it's tough to pick the right clubs and hit at the right distance. I got a good hang of it and then hit a lot of good shots."
Ludvig Aberg is another man hoping to face the United States next month but his fate is not in his own hands as he looks to impress Donald enough to get a pick.
The Swede also carded a 64, birdieing five of his first six holes after starting at the tenth and adding another on the ninth in a bogey-free effort which followed up on his tie for fourth at last week's D+D Real Czech Masters.
"I felt pretty solid tee to green, it’s nice to feel like you are hitting the driver pretty far at this elevation," he said. "It makes you feel a little bit strong. Overall very happy with the way I played and got off to a pretty hot start.
"It was cold, but not as cold as I was expecting. The last couple of days it has been cooler, so it wasn’t too bad.
"I feel like the back nine you get a few chances, especially today with the pin positions. Any time you get off to a hot start is great and you try to build on it. Luckily I did today."
