Jimenez and Hanson secure Cup spots as Molinari wins at Gleneagles

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Swede Peter Hanson clinched the last automatic spots in Europe’s Ryder Cup side when they did what they had to do at Gleneagles today.

Italian Edoardo Molinari added to Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie’s problems when he won the Johnnie Walker Championship by one with three closing birdies.

Montgomerie had just an hour to decide whether Molinari, who also lifted the Scottish Open last month, was worth a wild card, which would mean leaving out two of the ’FedEx Four’ who stayed in America – Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Paul Casey and Luke Donald.

A chip to 18 inches on the last gave Molinari a 71 and 10 under total, one better than Australian Brett Rumford and three clear of his brother Francesco - already in the team – Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who clinched his cup spot along with Swede Peter Hanson.

Jimenez had to finish in the top nine and was in fourth place, while Hanson needed top 43 and ended up in a tie for 19th.

Qualifiers for Europe Ryder Cup team (three wild cards to be added later):

Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jiminez, Peter Hanson.