Jamie Donaldson’s hopes of appearing in the Ryder Cup for Europe have been boosted by his success in the Seve Trophy.
Macclesfield-based Donaldson was forced to withdraw from the final major of 2013, the US?PGA?Championship at Oak Hill?Country Club after a back injury restricted his play and he shot a 10-over 80.
The 37-year-old had finish tied for seventh at last season’s PGA but back trouble saw his challenge ended 18 holes in.
The injury means he won’t have the chance to get qualification for the sport’s biggest team event under way just yet.
But Donaldson, who won his second European Tour title at this year’s Abu Dhabi Championship, can set his sights firmly on representing Europe at Gleneagles in little more than a year’s time.
Euope captain?Paul?McGinley has seen the Welshman in action at the 2011 Seve trophy, when he contributed two wins and a couple of halves to Great Britain and Ireland’s 15.5 - 12.5 win over Continental Europe.
His only loss saw him defeated in singles matchplay by Francesco Molinari, and McGinley – whose own Ryder Cup history saw him ---- – is urging him to stake his claim over the next 12 months.
“Jamie is a guy whose career didn’t ascend to the heights very quickly, but he’s put a lot of work in and eventually got himself into the world’s top 50 which is the all-important thing,” said McGinley.
“He’s a player who has all the potential to play Ryder Cup for me. He’s good enough and hopefully he’ll carry on having a good season.
“If he makes my team in Gleneagles I would very much welcome him as part of the European set-up.
“To be honest I’m a little reluctant to say too much about Jamie, not wishing to put too much pressure on him. All I can say is he was a wonderful member of my Seve Trophy team who took to team golf like a duck to water.
“I put him out in the first game and he rose to the challenge for me every time.
“If he plays well enough and makes the team, I’ll be delighted to have him on board.”
