"Luke was very understanding" - Major winner explains why he skipped Ryder Cup trip

England's Aaron Rai has explained why he decided not to go on Europe's scouting trip to Adare Manor ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup. 

The 31-year-old is very much in the reckoning to be part of Luke Donald's dozen that heads to County Limerick next September to take on Jim Furyk's United States. 

Rai clinched the PGA Championship earlier in the summer and many believe he has the game and temperament needed for the biennial dust-up. 

But Rai was not among the 16 Europeans that played 18 holes at the host venue on Monday. 

"Luke was very understanding," Rai told reporters ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. 

"We actually briefly spoke at The Open Championship a few months ago. 

"That was the first that I'd heard of the trip, and I said I'll definitely think about it, but I explained to him the situation even then.

"I took my time, and I really did try and make that trip, but I just felt like it would be a lot on me in terms of the travel. 

"I think with this tournament as well, on top of the travel, it just felt like it was the right decision overall not to go, try to explain it and apologise. 

"Obviously I was grateful for the opportunity to be asked, but yeah, it was a tricky decision overall."

European Ryder Cup qualification began at The Belfry last month and will run through to August. 

"I don't think I've even earned any points yet to earn the Ryder Cup team," added Rai. 

"In that sense, it's a long way away. 

"Obviously it's a huge honour to even get close to representing the European team.

"I'll try and do my best, prepare as well as I can and try to control the things I can control to give myself a good chance at playing well over the next year."

Rai said he's yet to determine what his schedule will look like in 2027. 

On Tuesday, the PGA Tour outlined membership criteria for their two-tier Championship and Challenger Series which begins in two years' time. 

"First and foremost, I love playing over here," said Rai. 

"Obviously that gives opportunity to accumulate points. 

"I think next year I'll see how the schedule looks on the DP World Tour. 

"I might play an extra one or two here depending how things fit.

"I'll just try to play as well as I can and prepare as well as I can and see where that takes me."

Rai is playing the first two rounds of the DP World Tour's flagship event alongside Masters champion Rory McIlroy and Open winner Ryan Fox. 

McIlroy sought out Rai for praise during his pre-tournament press conference. 

Asked what the 37-year-old likes so much about Rai, McIlroy said: "I don't think there's anything not to like. 

"I think if we all had a little more Aaron Rai in us, the world would be a better place. 

"I think just his humility, his humbleness, and his kindness, his work ethic, his dedication. 

"He's the ultimate professional, but he does it all in the right way.

"[If] you walk up-and-down that range all day, you wouldn't find one person who had a bad word to say about him. 

"He just does everything with class and grace and humility. He was a very deserving winner of the PGA."