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So the race to be on the 2006 Ryder Cup European team starts this week (a week too late for leaguegolf's favourite player David Howell, who won in Munich...)

Players qualify as follows:

The 5 players who collect the most world ranking points, NOT necessarily the 5 highest ranked
Then, the 5 players who earn the most Order of Merit points on the European Tour.
Then Ian Woosnam gets his two captain's picks.

Players must be members of the European Tour.

Who do you reckon will end up qualifying? Obviously guys who play a lot in the US and who play well will have the advantage on the World Points list. Getting in to all the Majors is helpful, since you can earn lots of world points AND Order of Merit points.

I reckon:

Sergio Garcia (will get a captain's pick should he somehow not otherwise qualify)
Padraig Harrington
Darren Clarke
Luke Donald
David Howell
Niclas Fasth
Colin Montgomerie
Paul McGinley
Ian Poulter
Thomas Bjorn
Lee Westwood
Graeme McDowell

Justin Rose will get a guernsey. He is definitely a star in the making.

As of now Justin Rose is not eligible as he does not hold a European Tour card, he resigned in favour of the US Tour. He wants to concentrate on the US events to help himself into the Top 50 and guarantee Majors invites.

Sounds to me like he wants to play for HIMSELF and so doesn;t really fit the current European team mindset.

Sergio Garcia
Padraig Harrington
Darren Clarke
Luke Donald
David Howell
Ian Poulter
Thomas Bjorn
Lee Westwood

These 8 are for certain, with a list of possibles

Owen
Dougherty
McDowell
A whole collection of Swedes and Danes
Jimenez
Monty possibly
McGinley hopefully
Rose


I think Casey may come back , but it is not certain.

I really have to agree with you, Stenson is a name to watch, wonderful player, I'm a huge fan of the jovial Spaniard, it wont be a team without him. I would say Westwood will be there, he is working with a good coach and he is spending a lot more time working on his game than he ever has. McDowell has potential no doubt but he has led tournaments going into the final round and has a bit of a problem closing. I dont care if the wheels come off Monty's game between now and then he has to be on the team. He rises to the top of the bunch in these matches and has a record second to none.

Jimenez I think would be a certainty as a choice, as Would Olizabal

I'd love to see Darren Clarke in there, as I think he has the ability & the stamina to come good in a team situation when it matters. McGinley & Rose, yes.

As for Owen, it would be nice to see, especially as he's a local lad...(sort of) & he is one of those we never really seem to have known about till a few weeks ago & may promise a lot more to come. Bjorn has to be a definite choice IMO

And you can't really leave out McGinnly if Harrington is in there

I think Monty should be there too.

With Clarke,McDowell, Harrington and McGinley ,you have enough local players to make the guinness flow.

Predicting the team is easy.,,

Sergio Garcia
Padraig Harrington
Luke Donald
Darren Clarke
Thomas Bjorn
David Howell
Colin Montgomerie
Miguel-Angel Jimenez
Pauk McGinley
Ian Poulter
Niclas Fasth
Henrik Stenson

And quite a few of the names in the frame are off to good starts - Garcia wins the event, Casey finished 3rd, Donald 4th.

As the World points spots will most likely go to Sergio, Harrington, Donald, Clarke & (possibly) Howell, I reckon the order of merit spots will go to Monty (as he's back in the majors/WGCs), Jimenez, McGinley & Westwood. There always seems to be at least one shock qualifier, so how about one from Dredge, Derksen, P.Hanson, Canonica, Siem, Webster or even a return for Paul Broadhurst! I think Bjorn, Poulter, McDowell & Casey will struggle to make it. The captain picks would then leave 2 from Olazabal, Poulter, Casey, Rose & Bjorn. Rose has committed to playing the 11 events, unlike Owen (no loss) and Jacobsen (pity).
In other words the team is Serge, Pods, Donald, Clarke, Howell, Monty, Jimenez, McGinley, Westwood, Dredge, Olly & Rose.

Hot Irish......like the name,

Your team looks good to me,with only Dredge and Rose as virgins in the heat of Ryder Cup battle. Difficult to see that team being beaten .....................

Especially given who they'll be playing!