The world rankings will be used for the first time when qualifying for Europe's next Ryder Cup team starts in September.
Five players will earn their places from the world ranking points they win during the 12-month qualifying race.
Previously the team comprised 10 players from points earned in Order of Merit events and two wild cards. Now it will be five from the world rankings, only five from Order of Merit points and two wild cards.
Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills said: "The Ryder Cup Board recognises the growing influence of the Official World Golf Ranking while also acknowledging the continued importance of the Volvo Order of Merit, which has supplied the majority of the European teams since 1979.
"The board is aware that golf has grown internationally and that European tour members play in many countries on different tours.
"In the circumstances, it is felt that the implementation of this new qualification system will ensure that the Ryder Cup team continues to be both competitive and representative of the talent at Europe's disposal."
Sam Torrance had to use one of his wild cards on Sergio Garcia last time because he had split his time between America and Europe and had not earned enough points.
Under the new system, Europe's top players will be guaranteed qualification because of their world ranking positions.
Torrance's successor as captain is expected to be named around the time of the Open championship in July.
Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle have thrown their names into the hat and Bernhard Langer is considering whether to do the same.
Langer revealed last week that he had spoken with Woosnam about the possibility of them both going forward for the next two matches, with whoever is named for the 2004 match standing down in favour of the other if he qualifies for the team.
However, after the European tour's tournament committee meeting last night Langer said: "There is not going to be any dual arrangement. We're going to announce only one captain at a time and whoever is named captain is committed to being captain."
In other words, there will be no repeat of what nearly happened in 1999 when Mark James was ready to stand down as captain if he earned a spot on the team. He had put Ken Brown on stand-by.