The injury-stricken English golfer Ross McGowan's first-round retirement at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles means Italian Francesco Molinari is a certainty to line up for his Ryder Cup debut for Europe in October.
McGowan pulled out with a shoulder problem and cannot now make Europe's automatic top nine for the match against the US holders at Celtic Manor in Wales.
However Molinari, seventh in the points list, is guaranteed a spot.
