The Ryder Cup is fast-approaching and excitement is building as the respective USA and European teams begin to take shape. There is generally one player who makes a late surge to force his way into the team and Thorbjorn Olesen could be that man for Europe as the in-form Dane finished the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in fine style on Sunday.
Olesen signed for a final round of 64 in Akron, Ohio, as he recorded his best ever finish (tied 3rd) at a World Golf Championship event and it was a result that continued his excellent run of recent results. Olesen finished in the top-ten of the leaderboard at Firestone Country Club, along with a couple of potential European Ryder Cup teammates - Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter - and he appears to be timing his push for a place in the team to perfection, with Europe set to go head-to-head with the USA at Le Golf National, Paris, from 28th September.
The 28-year-old started 2018 with a disappointing return of one top-ten finish from nine starts, before victory at the Italian Open - the fifth European Tour title of his career - saw him rocket up the world rankings. Since winning in Italy, Olesen tied 2nd at the BMW PGA Championship, tied 6th at the Irish Open and shared 12th spot at the Open Championship, prior to his latest impressive display at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.
The current world number 40 is up to ninth place in the projected rankings for the European team, with only the top-eight when the Made In Denmark concludes on 2nd September guaranteed an automatic spot in captain Thomas Bjorn's line-up.
In truth, Bjorn will no doubt be tempted to hand his fellow countryman one of four wildcard picks if it comes down to it and Bjorn knows what Olesen is capable of as they represented Europe together at the 2014 EurAsia Cup, winning their fourballs match and losing their foursomes.
Olesen, who is eyeing a potential Ryder Cup debut this year, does have some experience of the team format of golf as he also played for Europe at the 2013 Royal Trophy, as well as playing for Continental Europe in the 2013 Seve Trophy. Olesen's win-halved-loss record from appearances in team golf currently stands at 4-0-6.
The Ryder Cup hopeful has also represented Denmark at the 2011, 2013 and 2016 World Cups, winning the latter with Soren Kjeldsen. He will be desperate to add the Ryder Cup to his CV and he can press his case for automatic selection by continuing his purple patch of form in August.
