Contenders vie to seal Ryder spot

GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR:UNDER NORMAL circumstances Paul Casey would not be paying close attention to what is happening at the Czech Open.

Nor would Pádraig Harrington, Justin Rose or Luke Donald. But these are not exactly normal circumstances.

A tournament featuring only two of the world’s top 50 – Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Swede Peter Hanson – might yet have a massive part to play in Europe’s Ryder Cup race.

And it could leave Casey, Harrington, Rose and Donald knowing that at least one of them will not be playing against the Americans at Celtic Manor in October.

While they controversially stay away from the final two counting events, England’s Ross McGowan and Simon Dyson have joined Hanson in a bid to oust Casey from the ninth and last automatic qualifying spot.

McGowan, whose hopes of a debut have suffered through wrist and shoulder problems this summer, needs a top-four finish at the Prosper Resort in Celadna on Sunday.

Dyson, joint 12th with Casey in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits last weekend, and Hanson, eighth in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational two weeks ago, need to win.

But even if the trio fall short of that they still have next week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles to come.

The race is not over yet either for Oliver Wilson, the English golfer who earned his first cap under Nick Faldo in Louisville two years ago.

Wilson has still to achieve his first European Tour victory, but a first or second place now would put him in with a chance of retaining his place as he travels on to Scotland.

As for Jimenez, he is currently eighth on the table, but a fourth cap is not yet in the bag for the 46-year-old. He might need to add to his points on the course he co-designed because he is then going to a nephew’s wedding rather than to Gleneagles.

McGowan was on the point of pulling out of the Czech trip when he slumped to a closing 81 at Whistling Straits on Sunday.

Last season’s Madrid Masters champion and Dubai World Championship runner-up has not had a top-four finish all year, but he is prepared to go through the pain barrier – with the help of strapping and painkillers – in a last-ditch bid to be part of Colin Montgomerie’s side at Celtic Manor.

“I almost didn’t play in Akron (the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and the same with the PGA,” he said.

“On Monday and Tuesday I didn’t hit balls and Wednesday it was just a few. It was good to make the cut considering, but by Sunday it was pretty tired.

“It’s very frustrating and gutting and for my long-term career it probably needs rest.”

Away from the Ryder Cup, the Czech Open also sees the professional debut of 19-year-old English amateur champion Tommy Fleetwood.

Last year’s Irish Open champion Shane Lowry, who was disappointed to miss the cut at the US PGA after shooting a second round 79 at Whistling Straits last week, will lead the six-strong Irish challenge which also includes Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy, Simon Thornton and Michael Hoey.

CZECH OPEN

Course: Prosper Resort, Celadna

Length: 7,155 yards. Par: 72.

Prizemoney: €2 million (€333,330 for the winner).

Layout: This Miguel Angel Jimenez-designed course is hilly with narrow fairways. Although it has large greens there are a few water hazards.

Field: 156.

Defending champion: Sweden's Oskar Henningsson won by two shots from Steve Webster and Sam Little.

On TV: Sky Sports 3 (10am today).

Weather forecast: Cloudy with some rain and temperatures of 18 degrees for first day, getting warmer at the weekend, little wind.