BLAINE, Minn. — Sepp Straka’s golf career has taken a turn in the past 18 months.
In his fifth full season on the PGA Tour, Straka enters the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities playing arguably the best golf of his career. He won the John Deere Classic earlier this month before tying for second last week in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, his best finish in a major.
With the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the horizon, his goals are set on that and something else: making the European Ryder Cup team.
“I set that goal probably a year-and-a-half ago,” Straka said. “Growing up, I didn’t even dream of playing on the PGA Tour. I’ve had to reshape my goals over the years after reaching certain ones.
“You definitely think about it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but you just can’t really let it affect your play. You still have to play just good golf and hopefully you either qualify outright or get picked.”
Sepp Straka is coming off a win at the John Deere Classic and runner-up finish at The Open. A possibly Ryder Cup spot is also on the line pic.twitter.com/je05KdpEmJ
— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) July 26, 2023
Straka, the 30-year-old from Austria, represented his country in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but he has never been this close to earning a spot on the Ryder Cup team. Until now.
Sitting at 15th in the FedEx Cup standings, a strong finish to the year will almost solidify his spot on the squad as one of the six captain’s picks. Although he’s not one of the six automatic qualifiers as of now, he could play his way in with a strong finish to the season.
“My goal is to just play some good golf up until then, and hopefully I can make that team,” he said.
If Straka were to make the team, he would be only the second golfer from Austria to make a European Ryder Cup team, following on the heels of Bernd Wiesberger in 2021.
“After he played in it, I talked with him and he just said it was the greatest thing ever,” Straka said. “It’s fun to hear the stories. It makes you want to prepare harder and try to get your name in the ring.”
Straka will make his 25th start of the season Thursday at the 3M Open. He has the one win, two runner-up finishes (he fell in a playoff in the fall at the Sanderson Farms Championship) and five top-10 finishes. He has risen to No. 25 in the world, his best ranking ever.
Last week at the Open, Straka said he spoke with European captain Luke Donald and made small talk. After his runner-up finish, Donald made sure to text Straka to congratulate him and stay in touch.
“Luke’s a great guy and obviously would love to play for him, but yeah, just got to play some good golf until then and kind of make that happen,” Straka said. ”
Safe to say there may be more than small talk between the duo in the future.