Ryder Cup chief McGinley 
extends wild card picks

Predecessor Jose Maria Olazabal had just two selections to make for the 2012 match against the United States at Medinah, when he selected Nicolas Colsaerts and Ian Poulter.

McGinley will be given more of an opportunity to tailor his side with the addition of the third wild card, which means nine automatic qualifying places will be available for the 12-man team, four via the European Tour points list and five from the world points list.

The decision brings McGinley in line with American counterpart Tom Watson, who announced in March that he was reducing his number of picks from four to three. “I have said on a number of occasions that if something ain’t broke then don’t fix it, and I think that applies to the qualification process for the European Ryder Cup team,” said McGinley.

England’s Brian Davis booked his place at this year’s Open in the American leg of international final qualifying in Plano, Texas.

The top eight players earned a spot at Muirfield this summer and Davis grabbed a share of fourth place on five under par, alongside American Scott Brown, with rounds of 66 and 69.

The R&A and United States Golf Association have confirmed the ban on anchored strokes will come into effect from January 1, 2016. Golf’s governing bodies proposed the ban last November and Rule 14-1b has now been given final approval after the 90-day consultation process.

The European Tour supported the proposal but the PGA Tour and PGA of America voiced strong opposition, raising the possibility of different rules being followed in different events.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: “We took a great deal of time to consider this issue.”