The 35-year-old Englishman was a tough snub in 2018, when he won three times but was not selected by captain Thomas Bjorn. The five-time DP World Tour champion has been emptying the tank to impress captain Luke Donald ahead of Monday’s captain’s pick selection deadline. But one year after Wallace got off to a strong start for Ryder Cup qualification by winning the Omega European Masters, he arrived back at Crans-sur-Sierre GC knowing that he would likely come up short of his dream once again.
Wallace posted on social that he had a “heavy heart” knowing his Ryder Cup fate was likely sealed, but he still hoped to give Donald one last thing to think about this week when he defended his title in Switzerland.
It’s been a year since we were last here in Crans Montana, Switzerland. A year of dedication to my craft, all in the hope of trying to get a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team. I’m coming back with such a heavy heart but one full of pride and gratitude towards my team. pic.twitter.com/LRyDKSB0Jr
We have given it everything. The drive and feeling I get within when the Ryder Cup is mentioned is quite surreal, especially when it’s a match I’ve never actually managed to be a part of. I’ve said on record that I will never stop trying to be a part of it until I quit playing.
it’s difficult to put into words just how much this year meant to me. I will learn from this and be stronger for the next campaign. To all involved, thankyou, and to all the fans out there, you’re the best and we will go again.
Wallace has been pushing hard to play his best down the stretch, but outside of a T3 at the 3M Open, he has admittedly not played to the standard required. Wallace admitted that the pressure he feels trying to play his way onto the team has undoubtedly impacted his play.
“It’s been a hard couple of weeks, probably more emotionally than physically [with] wanting to show myself and try to get into the Ryder Cup team when it means so much to you,” Wallace told europeantour.com earlier this week. Pressure in golf is like a ghost. It is there, you can’t see it, but you can sense it. It really affects your swing sometimes.
“You give it everything and I just haven’t had it,” he added. “I won’t give up, there is an extra week. [But] I don’t believe I will be able to get a pick but it is out of my control and my hands so we will leave it up to Luke.”
But still, Wallace put the pedal down this week in Switzerland in a final attempt to sway Donald. He shot rounds of 65, 63 and 65 to put himself in contention to defend his title. He fired a final-round 67 on Sunday, but that wasn’t enough to get it done as Wallace posted 20-under-par, which was two shots behind winner Thirston Lawrence.
After his final round, Wallace became very emotional when asked about his Ryder Cup chances. He tried to hold back the tears for over 40 seconds before getting out one sentence that perfectly encapsulates his push toward his dreams.
“I’ll never give up on the Ryder Cup,” Wallace said before walking off.
Wallace finished 12th in the European Ryder Cup standings. Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton and Rasmus Hojgaard automatically qualified for the team. On Monday, Donald is expected to select Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka and Matt Fitzpatrick as Europe looks to run back 11 of the 12 players from its 2023-winning Ryder Cup team.
Wallace is seen as a bubble guy along with the likes of Marco Penge and Nicolai Hojgaard, but based on Wallace’s outpouring of emotion, it feels like he already knows that his fate is decided, and now he’ll have to wait until 2027 to try and achieve a lifelong dream.
This content is available only to InsideGOLF members. Log in to continue watching, or join InsideGOLF for full access.
Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf.com. Before joining GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. A native Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time hiking with his wife and dog, thinking of how the Ducks will break his heart again, and trying to become semi-proficient at chipping. A true romantic for golf, Josh will never stop trying to break 90 and never lose faith that Rory McIlroy’s major drought will end (updated: he did it). Josh Schrock can be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
