Magnificent seven assured of Ryder Cup spots

Ian Woosnam at last knows the first seven of his side to defend the Ryder Cup in three weeks time.

Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, David Howell, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Karlsson and Paul Casey are certain of their places with a week to go in the 12-month race.

Padraig Harrington is virtually certain to join them, but Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul McGinley are under threat for the last two automatic spots – Olazabal especially as he has chosen not to play the BMW International in Munich.

Only three other players – Paul Broadhurst, Johan Edfors and John Bickerton - are left with a chance to climb into the top 10.

Bickerton has to win in Germany, Edfors needs second and third could do it for Broadhurst if Montgomerie or Casey go past Olazabal on the world ranking points list.

The first five places come off that and the next five are determined by European tour earnings.

European captain Woosnam selects two wild cards on Sunday night and on his short list are thought to be Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Ian Poulter and Carl Pettersson.

The Swede would have earned himself a debut if he had been a member of the European tour from the start of qualifying – he actually would have top of the table – but the experience of Westwood and Clarke could give them the edge if Clarke feels ready to play so soon after the death of his wife from cancer.