Yannik Paul reacts to Ryder Cup snub

Ryder Cup hopeful Yannik Paul has reacted to being left out of Team Europe for this month’s Ryder Cup.

The German, who sat 3rd on the European Points list for much of the season, narrowly missed out as Luke Donald favoured a handful of other rookies.

Paul tweeted: “I am obviously disappointed to not make the team. If you are in third place for 90% of the time you want to end up being on the team.

“I just didn’t finish high enough on the leaderboard the last few events to earn my spot back.”

I am obviously disappointed to not make the team. If you are in 3rd place for 90% of the time you want to end up being on the team. I just didn’t finish high enough on the leaderboard the last few events to earn my spot back.
Good luck to @RyderCupEurope – bring the 🏆back💪🏻

— Yannik Paul (@YannikPaul) September 5, 2023

Donald handed debuts to Swedish prodigy Ludvig Aberg and Danish youngster Nicolai Hojgaard, instead.

The Englishman cited recent form as a key factor behind his decisions, and those rookies clearly fit that bill.

Aberg won his first title last weekend at the Omega European Masters, after only turning pro in June, while Hojgaard recorded consecutive top-five finishes.

In comparison, Paul could only muster a 10th place finish at the Czech Masters before tying for 20th place in Switzerland last week.

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The 29-year-old required at least a three-way tie for third place to edge Robert MacIntyre out of the final automatic qualifying spot.

And Paul’s decision to skip the ISPS Handa World Invitational last month now looks even more bizarre in the hunt for qualification.

Paul was just 90 points behind the Scot entering that week, and he ultimately finished 107 points ahead by the close of play last week.

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The man below Paul on the European list, Adrian Meronk, also missed out on competing in the biennial match at Marco Simone.

His omission left a sour taste in the mouth for many, after a strong season which included a win at the Rome venue.

The remainder of Donald’s captain’s picks went in the way of Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Sepp Straka.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.