{"id":394875,"date":"2025-09-03T15:38:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/394875\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T15:38:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:38:12","slug":"ryder-cup-2025-why-one-golf-analyst-feels-very-sorry-for-matt-wallace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/394875\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryder Cup 2025: Why one golf analyst feels ‘very sorry’ for Matt Wallace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt Wallace has had sympathy from golf fans all over Europe after his latest Ryder Cup disappointment, and Sky Sports\u2019 Robert Lee admits the Englishman can consider himself unlucky again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wallace<\/a>\u2019s long wait for a Ryder Cup<\/a> debut goes on after he fell short of qualifying for Luke Donald\u2019s team this year and was overlooked for a captain\u2019s pick<\/a>, and not for the first time.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old sent emotions racing with his tearful post-tournament interview<\/a> after narrowly failing to retain his Omega European Masters title, prompting Donald to give him a consolation phone call shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n

But even a win in Switzerland may not have been enough for Wallace to be handed a place in the European team for Bethpage, with many feeling that Donald had his six picks set in stone long before he finalised his line-up on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that probably was the case,\u201d Lee told GolfMagic<\/strong>. \u201cJon Rahm<\/a> was always going to get a pick, so Matt Wallace unfortunately just missed out again.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

\u201cMatt Fitzpatrick<\/a> played his way into the 12 and, for me, it came down to Wallace or Rahm really.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wallace was in a similar situation ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, and he forced captain Thomas Bjorn into a late dilemma when he won the final qualifying event in the skipper\u2019s homeland.<\/p>\n

But Bjorn opted for experience with his four captain\u2019s picks and added Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Sergio Casey and Henrik Stenson to his eight automatic qualifiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’ve got to feel sorry for Matt because in Denmark, he won the last tournament in front of Thomas Bjorn, the last counting event, and he didn’t get picked.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

\u201cHe played his heart out then, and he played his heart out in Switzerland last week. You can see how much it means to Matt Wallace, and is really unlucky.<\/p>\n

The problem is, if you’re a rookie and you don’t play your way into the top six, then you are – in NFL terms – subject to waivers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sepp Straka<\/a> was locked in for a pick after winning twice on the PGA Tour this season, but he emerged as a late doubt when he withdrew from the BMW Championship last month to attend \u201ca private family matter.<\/p>\n

\n

Big congratulations and best of luck to Europe\u2019s Ryder Cup team heading for Bethpage. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be watching and supporting and know the boys can bring the trophy home. pic.twitter.com\/8Kv9ZsB5kD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Wallace (@mattsjwallace) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Austrian looked in good spirits when he was confirmed as a pick by Donald but, even if he was unable to play at Bethpage, Lee feels Marco Penge may have got the call ahead of Wallace.<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cSepp Straka became a concern because he’d taken a bit of time out with a personal issue, and even though he played the Tour Championship, he looked completely distracted, finishing 7-over and bottom of the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the only possibility of a wrinkle in the 12 would have been if Sepp was in a place where he couldn’t really give everything because of what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he was in a place where he couldn’t play, let’s say, then I think Marco Penge gets a call, because he hits it miles! I played Bethpage last October and it is a big old golf course, so hitting it long around there is a massive help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, a guy who hits it a long way and putts well, you would want him in a Ryder Cup. And he’s second on the Race to Dubai as well, isn’t he? So he was close enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd with his skillset going into Bethpage, I think he might have leapfrogged Matt Wallace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Subscribe to our Newsletter