Ryder Cup 2018: European team looking to reclaim trophy at Le Golf National

European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn is closing in on the side that will be tasked with overturning American dominance at the highest level.

Italian Francesco Molinari broke Stateside dominance of the four majors with his Open Championship win at Carnoustie in July, but those from across the pond still hold all the transatlantic team titles in both the men’s and women’s game.

Under the guidance of captain Davis Love III, America strolled to a 17-11 demolition of Darren Clarke’s team Europe at Hazeltine two years ago, however, with both sides boasting perhaps their strongest potential teams for a decade, the contest at Le Golf National will be much tighter.

American captain Jim Furyk, a veteran of nine Ryder Cups as a player, now knows eight of his 12, with the PGA Championship at Bellerive being their last chance to qualify via the points list.

Team Europe

Francesco Molinari

Justin Rose

Tyrrell Hatton

Tommy Fleetwood

Jon Rahm

Rory McIlroy

Alex Noren

Ian Poulter

Wildcard

Wildcard

Wildcard

Wildcard

*As it stands

Bjorn will not know exactly who has qualified this side of the Atlantic until September 2, before naming his four captain’s picks on September 5.

After his maiden major triumph, Molinari is a dead cert to tee it up in Paris, as are Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy.

Ian Poulter’s performance at Bellerive saw him sneak into the final spot having leapfrogged Paul Casey in the world points list, while Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm and Alex Noren currently make up the remainder of the eight.

Despite their poor form this year, both Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson are favourites for a captain’s pick, while dependant on who finishes in the automatic spots, one of Casey or Poulter will not be ignored.

The final slot on Bjorn’s selection presents a tough decision, with Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Thomas Pieters, Eddie Pepperell, Thorbjorn Olsen and Russell Knox all putting forward a case in recent weeks.