Ryder Cup qualification: Adrian Meronk boosts Team Europe hopes with 'statement' Italian Open win
Adrian Meronk claimed a one-shot win at the Italian Open to secure a third DP World Tour title in 10 months; Meronk could become the first player from Poland to represent Team Europe at a Ryder Cup this September, live on Sky Sports
Monday 8 May 2023 09:55, UK
Adrian Meronk has already achieved a host of golfing firsts for his native Poland, and the 29-year-old is closing in on possible further history after his "statement" victory at the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
Meronk lived up to his billing as the highest-ranked player in the field with an impressive one-shot win at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, which will host the Ryder Cup later this year, holding off the challenge of French duo Romain Langasque and Julien Guerrier during a thrilling Sunday.
Two birdies in his final three holes closed a two-under 69 and secured a third DP World Tour title in 10 months for Meronk, who moved to fifth in the European Points List and within 100 points of a current automatic qualifying place for Luke Donald's team in Rome.
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Meronk is already the maiden Polish winner on the DP World Tour and followed his breakthrough Horizon Irish Open success last July by claiming the ISPS Handa Australian Open in December, while victory in Italy has enhanced his hopes of being the first from his country to feature in a Ryder Cup.
"I think it is a solid statement, a solid brick in the wall," Meronk said after his victory in Rome. "It [qualifying] is not over yet, I know that. There is still a lot of time and I am super excited.
"It is one of my big goals this year and it would mean a lot to me [to play for Team Europe], so I will keep pushing and keep doing what I can to get on the team, but I think this should help."
Meronk holed the winning putt for Continental Europe - under the watchful eye of captain Donald and his vice-captains - at the inaugural Hero Cup earlier this year, an event aimed at giving European players team experience ahead of potential future Ryder Cup appearances.
Donald was in the the field at Marco Simone, a venue where Meronk previously enjoyed a runner-up finish in 2021, with the Englishman impressed with how his Team Europe contender closed out victory.
"Superb win for Adrian Meronk," Donald tweeted. "Some solid golf played all week and came up with the right shots when he needed them most. Starting to make winning a habit. Well done, Adrian!"
Meronk's victory lifts him to a career-high 46th in the latest world rankings and fourth in the DP World Tour rankings, although he is refusing to get carried away about the possibility of a Ryder Cup debut.
"It was definitely on my mind coming here, performing well in front of Luke [Donald]," Meronk admitted. "I think it might help, but there's still a lot of time left. I still have to work on my game and get better to make the team."
Team Europe as it stands
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy remain runaway leaders on the European Points List and will be key parts of Donald's team, while Yannik Paul clings onto the third automatic spot as things stand despite a disappointing final round and tied-23rd finish in Italy.
Victor Perez's tied-ninth finish leaves him within 59 points of Paul, while Meronk's timely success takes him to 1,297 points and in touch with the automatic places with less than four months left of the qualification campaign remaining.
Rahm leads the World Points List and McIlroy sits second despite a tied-47th finish at the Wells Fargo Championship, an event he has won three times and his first appearance since a missed cut at The Masters, while Tyrrell Hatton jumps to third after claiming a share of third at Quail Hollow.
US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland remain in the other automatic spots after sharing 35th and 43rd places respectively, while Tommy Fleetwood's top-five finish ensures he closes the gap on the qualification places.
The year-long qualification campaign began last autumn and runs through until this September, when three automatic qualifiers from the European Points List and the same number from the World Points List joining six captain's picks to make up Luke Donald's team.
Who will feature for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup this September? Watch the DP World Tour and PGA Tour every week live on Sky Sports Golf. The 43rd Ryder Cup will be exclusively live from September 29-October 1 on Sky Sports.
