"Tommy Fleetwood, whose he?" you might ask for the little known has yet to make his way into the upper echelons of professional

He has managed a 20th place finish in one European Tour event, but for the time being is a member of Europe's second-division developmental Challenge Tour where he is top of the Money standings right now and is looking set for promotion into the European Tour proper next year.

"But how could this qualify him to hold a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team for next year's battle against the USA if it were to be named this week?" you make also ask.

It is clearly unrealistic to look at the Ryder Cup race when its qualifying standings are less than two weeks old, but it is nevertheless a fact that after the 20-year-old from Southport's Challenge Tour victory in the Kazakhstan Open on Sunday, Fleetwood is lying in 10th and last place among the current Nike - VR Pro Blade Irons

This because he earned 12 world rankings points at the Kazakhstan Open, the same number as Scot Gary Orr received for his fourth place in the European Tour's KLM Open.

It has put Fleetwood on a similar track to the one Italian Edoardo Molinari followed last year when his last minute heroics before the qualifying deadline earned him his place in the Ryder Cup team after starting the qualifying race as a Challenge Tour member.

But here is how the Ryder Cup wannabes stand at the moment:

NOTE: They are the top 5 on a European points list and the top 5 not already qualified on aNike - VR Pro Blade Irons
list as at August 26. Captain Jose Maria Olazabal then adds two wild card picks (Capitals indicate players in qualifying positions):

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