• European Tour

Italian Open gets Ryder Cup boost

ESPN staff
September 24, 2013

The Italian Open has received a lift after it was confirmed the 2014 edition of the event will be the final qualifying tournament for European players hoping to make the Ryder Cup.

The event, which boasts the likes of Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman among its winners, has suffered in recent years due to a scheduling clash with the PGA Tour's lucrative FedEx Cup Play-offs.

But the 2014 Italian Open, which will finish on August 31, three and a half weeks before the Ryder Cup, will have a stronger field than usual if top names are still trying to earn a spot in Paul McGinley's team to take on the US at Gleneagles.

Qualifying for the European team began three weeks ago at the Wales Open. The top five players based on money from European Tour events and the top four players in world ranking points qualify automatically.

McGinley will also have three captain's picks, and hinted on Monday that he is likely to pick in-form players.

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