European Ryder Cup Points Race resumes in January with new weighted system

The European Tour has today confirmed the European Ryder Cup Points Race will resume on January 1 before concluding after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on September 12, albeit with a new weighted system as the 2021 season progresses. 

The 43rd edition of The Ryder Cup will be played on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 21-26, 2021.

The European Ryder Cup points race was initially suspended after the Qatar Masters in March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and it was then frozen for the remainder of the year when the European Tour resumed in July due to the fractured nature of the season. 

However, the European Tour has now confirmed that the qualification process will continue in January 2021 with a new weighting system as the season progresses - as requested by European Ryder Cup captain Padaig Harrington. 

All Race to Dubai and Official World Golf Ranking points earned between January 1 and May 9, 2021, will be multiplied by 1.5. This will come into effect at the Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour from January 7 to 10 on the World Points List, and at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from January 21 to 24 on the European Points List. 

The European Tour has also confirmed that all points acquired in tournaments from the British Masters hosted by Danny Willett from May 9 to 12 through to the flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth from September 9 to 12 will be multipled by 2. 

Europe's Ryder Cup side will be made up of the top four players on the European Points List, and the leading five players on the World Points List. Harrington will then have three wildcard picks to complete his side - and those will be named after the BMW PGA Championship.

As it stands, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Victor Perez are the top four players in the European Points List, with Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger coming through on the World Points List - but with the shakeup in points from January 1, you can certainly expect this list to change as the season progresses. 

"I am delighted to see the qualification campaign getting back underway next month," said Harrington.

"The weighting of the points will further reward our in-form players and will give added interest to what already looks like an exciting season ahead.

"I have been keeping a keen eye on all European players in action on both sides of the Atlantic in recent months and have been very encouraged by what I have seen. I look forward to seeing how that form translates into points on the two respective lists in the coming months."