Matthias Schwab: Young Austrian Hoping for Ryder Cup Bid
By Tim Letcher
Matthias Schwab has quickly risen up the standings on the European Tour. Now, the young Austrian hopes to make a run at the Ryder Cup.
Matthias Schwab quickly established himself as one of the finest young players on the European Tour. After turning pro in 2017, Schwab earned his European Tour card for the 2018 season and he didn’t waste any time in making a name for himself.
In his first year on the European Tour, Schwab played in 26 tournaments and made 18 cuts. He had four top 10 finishes and finished 72nd in the Race to Dubai.
More from Pro Golf Now
- Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
- Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
- Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
- Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
- Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament
Last season, Schwab took another step forward. He had a pair of runner-up finishes, one at the Porsche European Open and another at the Turkish Airlines Open. He would record seven top 10s during the season and would finish 17th in the Race to Dubai, ahead of many players who are more household names, like Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Francesco Molinari.
This season, Schwab continues to play well. He has made five starts and made the cut in each event in which he has played. His play has not been spectacular, but he keeps making cuts.
Schwab tied for 44th at the Saudi International, tied for 42nd at both the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and tied for 23rd at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. His best finish this season is a tie for 21st at the Qatar Masters in March.
Schwab, who was a two-time All-American at Vanderbilt University, was an outstanding amateur player. Just before he turned pro, he was the top-ranked European in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Now, he hopes to build on his success and he hopes to continue to climb in the Official World Golf Rankings and the European Ryder Cup standings. He’s currently 82nd in the OWGR and 11th in the European Ryder Cup standings.
Next. Golf Tips: The importance of being comfortable with your swing. dark
If he makes the Ryder Cup, he could become the first Austrian to play in the event. Countryman Bernd Wiesberger is also hoping to be the first Austrian in the event.
Schwab could be an option for one of captain Padraig Harrington’s three captain’s picks, if Harrington decides to go young. If not, Schwab will likely have a great chance to be playing in future Ryder Cups.