D+D Real Czech Masters: Power ranking the top 10 at Albatross

It’s probably too little too late, but the darling of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team is at least on the radar of captain Thomas Bjorn as fall approaches.

That’s because Pieters is A) still just 26 years old and oozing with talent and B) comes to the Czech Masters seeking his eighth straight cut.

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In his last seven starts, the Belgium has fared no worse than T40 and has two top-20s and two more top-20s. His last two starts were both impressive showings at majors: T28th at the Open Championship and T6 at the PGA Championship.

Pieters is also a past champion at Albatross from 2015 and nearly repeated when he took solo second in 2016. He was in line for another solid finish here last year before unraveling for a Sunday 83.

He can get that taste out of his mouth by focusing on his 11 prior rounds at the Czech Masters where Pieters was a cumulative 36-under-par.

Pieters ranks 26th in birdies per round and 32nd in par-5 scoring. The big hitter can afford to spray it around a bit this week and has held his own on the greens (26th in total putts).

Pieters is much too talented to go all year without a win. If he has any say, he’ll become a four-time European Tour victor by Sunday night.