Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts believes his good form this season is deserving on a Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ selection.
Colsaerts, 29 is one of only player competing this final week of European Team qualifying who can qualify for Jose Maria Olazabal’s side.
The Brussels-born Belgium is currently lying 12th on the points table and one spot behind England’s Ian Poulter.
But while Poulter will look to a certain ‘wildcard’ pick Colsaerts can break into the team by finishing first or second in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Nicolas Colsaerts in a relaxed mood ahead of the last qualifying event for the Ryder Cup. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I have adopted the best way to go about it, is to be very humble, “ said Colsaerts.
“I know Ollie (Olazabal) has been around for so many years. He’s been to so many Ryder Cup’s that he’s got all the scenarios covered regardless of what I do.
“You’re only looking at two or three options, so it’s quite simple.
“But what I’ve done I’ve showed basically everything I could have done to get the pick.
“Fortunately, I still have a way to get myself in, but I’d like to think that I’m a pretty good position to get a pick.”
Colsaerts commenced his 12th season in the pro ranks with fourth in the Volvo Champions event ahead of back-to-back top-10s in Qatar and Dubai.
He was then third in Sicily and runner-up in the defence of his Volvo China Open title before a seventh in the Spanish Open ahead of defeating former U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell in the final of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship.
Since then Colsaerts has finished 11th in the French Open and joint seventh in the British Open after failing to qualify since 2005.
“I’ve crossed paths with Ollie in the locker room, and it’s funny, because he told me with a big smile, ‘I’m watching you,’ said Colsaerts.
“I was pretty honest with him and I told him it was very difficult to play without thinking about it.
“When you want something like that for such a long time, and you’ve never been in this position before, it’s very difficult.
“I have been thinking about it all the time, simple.
“It’s like there not 15 minutes during any day where I don’t think about it.”
If successful in securing a ‘wildcard’ pick, and should Poulter also be given a pick, then Colsaerts would be the only rookie heading to Medinah.
And Colsaerts heads into this week’s £1.4m event at Gleneagles knowing he finished a best of second in 2005.
