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• David Lingmerth sets sights on fulfilling his Ryder Cup dream
• Alfred Dunhill only his third regular season European Tour start
• Expected to become an affiliate member at the end of the season 

DAVID LINGMERTH | RYDER CUP

Swedish star David Lingmerth said there would be ‘no greater honour’ than representing Team Europe at the Ryder Cup after confirming that he’d be taking up an affiliate membership of the European Tour following the conclusion of the Race to Dubai.

The 28-year-old, who has played only two regular season European Tour events so far in his career – the 2010 and 2012 Nordea Masters – makes it three this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as he looks to play more regularly on this side of the Atlantic.

And after securing his maiden PGA Tour win at the Memorial Tournament in June, seeing off Justin Rose in a play-off and subsequently gaining his three-year exemption, Lingmerth sees now as the perfect opportunity to make his Ryder Cup push after being encouraged by upcoming captain at Hazeltine Darren Clarke.

“Playing in the Ryder Cup has always been a dream of mine” – David Lingmerth

“With my win on the PGA Tour earlier this year, I’ve got a few years that I’m guaranteed out there so I thought, with that being the case, I might as well try and give it a chance because playing in the Ryder Cup has always been a dream of mine,” David Lingmerth exclusively told bunkered.co.uk after a practice round at Carnoustie.

“I’m going to join as an affiliate member after this season is over, so I’ll be playing a lot more over here. I want to try and earn my spot, but I’m not going to worry too much about it. If I make the team, that’d be awesome but if I don’t, at least I gave it a try.”

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The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide - Round Four

Lingmerth’s decision to join the European Tour as an affiliate member looks set to differ from that of Paul Casey, with the Englishman ‘not sure he’d rejoin’ the European Tour after an excellent season in the US, which has seen him rocket up the world rankings to No.23.

And the Swede, who resides in Jacksonville, Florida, understands Casey’s stance but says it’s easier for the 37-year-old as he’s already played in the Ryder Cup three times in his career – the wins in 2004 and 2006 and the defeat in 2008.

“He’s played in some Ryder Cups so he’s done it,” said Lingmerth. “It can be hard to play two tours so I understand him and he deserves to have his own opinion, which I was respect. But at the same time, I don’t think there’s a greater honour in golf than getting to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup, so that’s what I’m looking forward to.

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PGA Championship - Round Three

As well as his breakthrough win at the Memorial Tournament, Lingmerth finished third at the Quicken Loans National, was tied for sixth at both the Greenbrier Classic and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and finished just outside the top ten at the US PGA Championship, while he also made a fast start in his first appearance at an Open Championship, going seven-under-par on the front nine.

As a result, only five Europeans finished above 37th placed Lingmerth in the FedEx Cup standings – Henrik Stenson, Rose, Casey, Rory McIlroy and Russell Knox – and despite performing poorly in the play-offs with missed cuts at the Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship, the world No.41 is looking forward to the challenge that awaits this week.

“I think I can do really well this week” – David Lingmerth

“I’m feeling good and very happy to be here,” said Lingmerth, who is playing alongside American businessman John Tyson. “The weather’s been awesome so far and I’m hoping for a good week around these incredible courses, the only one I’d played previously was the Old Course at the Open this summer.

“I’ve had a good summer. I didn’t really do too well in the FedEx Cup play-offs but I’m feeling good again and I think I can do really well this week. This season has proved that I can play well on the PGA Tour and I made a good start at the Open – although I didn’t finish it off the way I wanted to – so I think I’m in good form and I’m looking forward to a great week.”

David Lingmerth :: Ryder Cup hopeful?

Do you think David Lingmerth has a good chance of making next year’s Ryder Cup team? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.

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