Matt Wallace wins third title of season at Made in Denmark

Matt Wallace gave European Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjorn a lot to think about as he claimed his third title of the season at the Made in Denmark

Matt Wallace rallied with five birdies over his final six holes in Denmark on Sunday to make it in to a four-man playoff as he made a last-ditch bid for his place in the European Ryder Cup side.

Wallace, who won the Hero Indian Open in March and the BMW International Open in June, posted a final-round 67 at Silkeborg Ry Golf Clubto get to 19-under-par with fellow Englishmen Lee Westwood, Jonathan Thompson and Steven Brown. 

Both Brown and Wallace managed to get it to within six feet on the first playoff hole to make birdies and elimate Westwood and Thompson. At the next, Wallace once again  put it close to make his second birdie in a row to take the title. 

“To do it in the style I’ve done it – I birdied the last five holes including the two playoff holes – is pretty special,” Wallace said. “That just shows who I am right there – my grit, my determination. That’s what I’m all about.”

For Wallace the timing was perfect as he took himself out of consideration for the European Ryder Cup squad in to contention for a Wildcard spot. 

Thomas Bjorn will name his four Captain’s Picks on Wednesday and Wallace revealed it would mean ‘everything’ to get picked. If he doesn’t, Wallace will join Johan Edfors as the only player to win three times in a Ryder Cup year and not make the Team (which happened in 2006). 

“I’ve stepped up to the mark and I’ve shown him exactly what I’m about,” Wallace said. “If he doesn’t pick me then that’s absolutely fine but if he does, he knows he’s going to get exactly that in his team.

“I set myself positions where I have to do things and, more often than not, I get it done. I’m very fortunate to have done it when I needed to in a few tournaments now.

“When my back’s against the wall, I don’t shy away from pushing myself off there and trying to get the job done and I kept saying to myself at the end there, ‘you can make this, you have done everything to be able to make this putt’, and I did it. Super happy.”

However, given the calibre of players also vying for a place, his spot isn’t guaranteed just yet.

Thorbjorn Olesen finished T20 to claim the final qualifying spot on the team as neither Matt Fitzpatrick or Eddie Pepperell were able to win the Made in Denmark – a feat that would have seen them dislodge Olesen in the top eight. The Dane will make his Ryder Cup debut in Paris alongside the other seven confirmed players: Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose.

Instead, both Fitzpatrick and Pepperell are among those awaiting to see if they will get one of the four Captain’s picks, along with 2016 stand-out rookie Thomas Pieters. 

On the other side of the world Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Rafa Cabrera Bello are all playing in the Dell Technologies Championship in the USA, while Sergio Garcia opted to stay at home. 

Thomas Bjorn will name his four wildcard picks in a special announcement show, live on Wednesday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf.