Why I think six Scots can make the Ryder Cup team

There were four Scottish players competing for Great Britain & Ireland in the Seve Trophy, the most Scotland has ever produced in an edition of the event.  Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, and Scott Jamieson took part in the event this time around.  While Lawrie has played in two Ryder Cups (1999 and 2012), neither of the other three Scots mentioned above have played in the biennial Europe vs. United States competition.  Throw in Richie Ramsay, who didn't qualify for the Seve Trophy, and Martin Laird, who is not currently a European Tour member (will become a member in 2014), and there are six Scottish players who will have a legitimate chance to play in their home country in golf's greatest event next year at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland.

Currently, Laird is Scotland's highest-ranked golfer at 57th in the Official World Golf Rankings.  He is followed by Gallacher at 65th, Lawrie at 74th, Warren at 109th, Jamieson at 110th, and Ramsay at 125th.  The latter five are handily-placed on the Race to Dubai, meaning they should be eligible to compete in at least three of the four no-cut European Tour "Final Series" events, which have prize funds ranging from $7,000,000 to $8,500,000.  The final event is the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai where the top-60 on the Race to Dubai will compete.  It is essential that these Scots, excluding Laird, qualify for that event.  Valuable world ranking points will also be on offer, on top of everything else.

Laird, meanwhile, cannot begin the Ryder Cup qualification process until January, when he becomes a member of the Tour.  Therefore, he will be playing catch-up as he will have missed out on the first four months of qualifying.  With Laird playing the majority of his golf on the US PGA Tour, his best chance to qualify will be through the World Points List.    

The 2014 Ryder Cup qualification process began on August 26, 2013 and runs through August 31, 2014.  The European Ryder Cup rankings are divided into two lists: the European Points List and the World Points List.  All Euros earned by European Tour members during the qualification period will count towards the European Points List, while all Official World Golf Ranking Points earned by European Tour members during the qualification period will count towards the World Points List.  The leading four members on the European Points List will qualify for the team.  The leading five members on the World Points List, not otherwise qualified, will make the team.  Captain Paul McGinley will have three Wild Card picks.      

Getting inside the top-50 in the world rankings by the end of this calendar year is essential for potential Ryder Cup players.  By doing so, you become eligible for all four majors and have a better chance of qualifying for the four World Golf Championships.  In addition, doors to limited-field events, such as the Volvo World Match Play Championship become opened.

I firmly believe that these six Scottish players have the ability to qualify for Gleneagles.  The chances of all six actually qualifying are slim, but it will be a goal at the top of their lists.  There are a little less than 11 months of qualification left, but what a thrilling time it will be.