The European team to defend the Ryder Cup against the United States in Valhalla, Kentucky in 2008 will be drawn up from the same qualification process as in the last two editions, the European PGA Tour announced today.
The Europeans have clamped a stranglehold on the biennial showdown winning five of the last six and the last three in a row, twice by record margins.
In both 2004 and 2006, the qualification process saw the top five Europeans on the world ranking reach the 12-strong team to be followed by the top five players not otherwise qualified in the Ryder Cup European Points List which is based on money won the European Order of Merit.
After that Nick Faldo, who will captain the 2008 side, has two wildcard picks to use at his own discretion.
The 2008 match will be held in Kentucky from September 19-21 with the qualifying events starting at the European Masters (September 6-9, 2007) and ending at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles (August 25-21, 2008).
Faldo, who played in The Ryder Cup 11 times and is Europe's individual record holder with 25 points, said: ‘There is a well-used expression: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', and I feel that it applies in this instance.
‘By using the World Ranking and the Order of Merit as the principal means to determine the ten qualifiers, I am confident that Europe will have the nucleus of a highly competitive side, so allowing me sufficient freedom to make my two Captain's picks.’
The Americans have already announced a change to their qualification format following the humbling in Dublin.
Their new captain Paul Azinger will wield more clout with four wildcard picks instead of two while the format favours a point system tied to prize money and emphasizing success in the year of a cup.
