Francesco Molinari of Italy was guaranteed a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team following Ross McGowan's withdrawal from the Johnnie Walker Championship with injury on Thursday.
McGowan pulled out of the Gleneagles event after shooting a 5-over 77 that put him near last place during the first round.
The Englishman needed to finish first or second at the Johnnie Walker Championship to have any chance of making Europe's Ryder Cup team.
Molinari, seventh on the selection points table, cannot now lose his place in the nine automatic European qualifiers. The 27-year-old Turin player will become the first Italian since Costantino Rocca in 1995 to play in a Ryder Cup.
''It is not the best way of making the team, so I am sorry for Ross,'' said Molinari, who shot a 68. ''But I am very relieved as it feels good to know that I am now in the team.
''I remember as a kid watching the Ryder Cup on TV and it was something I thought I would never achieve, so to get there - and I'm going to be 28 in November - at my age is very nice.''
McGowan had arrived at Gleneagles - the final European Ryder Cup qualifying event - 12th in the selection table, three places outside automatic selection.
But he was struggling with a trapped nerve in his shoulder, and after a round that included eight bogeys, the former English Amateur champion indicated it was time to rest.
''I'm pretty gutted, as I'm not one who likes to pull out of events, but we've pretty much tried everything other than injections,'' McGowan said.
''I had a great opportunity to make the (European) team this year after having such a good finish at the end of last year. So it's disappointing in so far as the Ryder Cup is concerned, but I have to look at the bigger picture as there are still a lot of golf tournaments to be played this year. Hopefully, there will be other opportunities to play in the Ryder Cup.''
