Rasmus Hojgaard was the only player capable of knocking Shane Lowry out of the automatic qualification spots at the British Masters and the Dane dutifully did just that.
He needed a top-29 finish and finished joint 13th.
McIntyre confirmed his spot in the Europe team by finishing runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship on 17 August, the final qualifying event for American players. The world number eight was second at June’s US Open and seventh at last month’s Open.
“Bob has put in some big performances on both sides of the Atlantic this season, and that fine form combined with his experience from 2023 will be invaluable in New York,” said Donald of the Scot who contributed 2½ points from three Ryder Cup matches in Rome.
The European team should be brimming with confidence given Fleetwood secured his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, while Rose also claimed a victory in the end-of-season play-offs at the St Jude Championship and McIlroy is still smiling from completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.
Six places are left up for grabs though, with Donald facing some tough choices.
Spain’s Jon Rahm, who won the LIV Golf individual title for a second successive year, looks nailed on for a wildcard spot, while Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and Norwegian Viktor Hovland are also likely to be in the 12-strong team.
Lowry also looks a certain pick given he only just missed out on automatic qualification.
Sepp Straka finished just below Lowry. but above Aberg and Hovland in the standings. He has won twice on the PGA Tour this season but his recent form has tailed off a little.
Will Donald go for experience or new blood in what is likely to be a boisterous atmosphere in New York?
Matt Fitzpatrick revealed Donald urged him to play at the British Masters, and the Englishman had an excellent start to the tournament. He led by one going into the final round before fading on Sunday.
And while Fitzpatrick’s Ryder Cup record is poor, with just one win and seven defeats across three contests, he did win the 2022 US Open.
Rasmus’ twin brother Nicolai may be in the reckoning. He went close at the Belfry and has the experience of having played in the victory in Rome in 2023.
And could Alex Noren have played his way into contention with victory at the British Masters? The 43-year-old Swede missed seven months of qualification with a hamstring injury but although he served a timely reminder of his quality, it seems unlikely.
Meanwhile, two Englishmen in Harry Hall and Marco Penge have staked their claims to make Ryder Cup debuts.
Hall has impressed on the PGA Tour, with five top-10s, and he finished sixth at last week’s BMW Championship to qualify for the Tour Championship. Prior to that event he had racked up 409 birdies this year, 45 more than any other player.
Penge climbed to 14th in the standings by beating Rasmus Hojgaard by one stroke to claim the DP World Tour’s Danish Golf Championship earlier in August, his second title of the season.
Europe, who won 16½-11½ in Rome two years ago, are looking to become the first away side to win since they triumphed at Medinah in 2012.
