NEWPORT’S Phillip Price enjoyed a top 15 finish, his best for some time on the European Tour, when he came joint 13th in the Czech Open on Sunday.

He finished up on a four under par total of 284 which was six behind winner Peter Hanson of Sweden, who secured his Ryder Cup place when he won a three-way play-off.

Price’s finish, with just one event remaining at Glen-eagles this week, has secured his tour card for next year.

He has now jumped to 101st place on the European points list with the top 115 certain of keeping their card.

Only one shot behind Price in the Czech Open was fellow Gwent player, Blackwood’s Bradley Dredge, currently in 31st place on the points list.

Hanson’s win relegates Paul Casey, ranked 11th in the world, to 10th position in the European list, outside the automatic nine places for selection for the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor from October 1-3.

That leaves European captain Colin Montgomerie with a tricky decision to make with his three picks outside the top nine finishers who qualify automatically.

For Casey now joins Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Justin Rose outside the Ryder Cup certainties. One of them will miss out on selection for the European team when Montgomerie announces it next month.

Leading Welsh golfer is Bridgend’s Rhys Davies who has slipped from his early season form and won’t make the Ryder Cup though he remains in 17th place on the European points list.

Meanwhile Miguel Angel Jimenez has chosen to fight for a Ryder Cup place at Gleneagles this week after cancelling plans to attend his nephew’s wedding.

Pushed down into the ninth and last guaranteed spot on the points table by Peter Hanson’s win at the Czech Open, 46-year-old Jimenez flew home to Spain and on arrival decided that it was next stop Scotland, rather than going along to Saturday’s family celebration.

The Dubai Desert Classic and French Open champion will be trying to secure a fourth Ryder Cup cap at the Johnnie Walker Championship – providing he makes the halfway cut, that is.

“Basically Miguel feels that this is quite likely to be his last opportunity to play in the match,” Jimenez’s manager Sarah Phillips said.

“He looked at the points situation on his flight back to Malaga and then texted me to say he was going to play.”