'Thanks' to Hanson, Monty Will Be Leaving at Least One Big Star off Ryder Cup Team

Peter Hanson sure knows how to complicate a guy's life. Maybe that's what Colin Montgomerie was thinking as he watched Hanson win the European Tour's Czech Open on Sunday. Because when Hanson did that, he knocked Paul Casey out of an automatic qualifying spot for the 2010 Europe Ryder Cup team.

And that means that Casey, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington have all failed to qualify for Captain Montgomerie's team, and that Monty - with three captain's picks - must leave one of those big-name players home.

Casey, Donald and Rose still had a chance to earn an automatic berth by playing in this week's Johnnie Walker Championship, the final tournament at which points are awarded for the European team. Instead, those three (plus Harrington) are playing The Barclays, which awards no points for Team Europe.

Hanson, meanwhile, vaulted himself into a very strong position. He's not guaranteed to be on Team Europe, but he's close to a sure thing. Here is how the list of nine automatic qualifiers looks today (w-qualifying through world points list; e-qualifying through European Tour points list):

Lee Westwood-w
Rory McIlroy-w
Martin Kaymer-w
Graeme McDowell-w
Ian Poulter-e
Ross Fisher-e
Francesco Molinari-e
Peter Hanson-e
Miguel Angel Jimenez-e

Hanson's victory at the Czech Open also bumped Jimenez down a notch, into the final qualifying position. Jimenez originally planned to skip the Johnnie Walker to attend the wedding of a nephew. But now that he's holding onto the last automatic qualifying spot, Jimenez has decided to play.

Ross McGowan, Simon Dyson and Alvaro Quiros all have mathematical chances to make the team, but Dyson and Quiros need a victory at the Johnnie Walker to make it happen, and McGowan must finish at least second to have a chance. There's even a scenario under which Francesco Molinari, in the No. 7 qualifying position currently, could get bumped from the team.

But there is no scenario under which Monty can get all four of Casey, Rose, Donald and Harrington on his team. And is it even guaranteed that Monty's three captain's picks will come from among those four players?

Maybe not. Monty has stressed throughout his captaincy that he wanted players to show their support for the European Tour and their desire to make the team by playing the Wales Open (at Celtic Manor, site of the 2010 Ryder Cup) and the final qualifying event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Of the Big 4, only Donald played the Wales Open. None are playing the Johnnie Walker. But Edoardo Molinari is deserving of consideration, and he's met Monty's goals. So has Welshman Rhys Davies, whose selection would thrill the home crowd.

Who would you choose as captain's selections for Team Europe?