European Ryder Cup hopeful admits his dream is slipping away: "I just haven't had it"

Matt Wallace "won't give up" on the possibility of getting a Ryder Cup call-up, but he admits his chances of a debut at Bethpage Black are slim.

Wallace is defending his Omega European Masters title this week and has one last chance to prove to Luke Donald that he is worthy of a captain's pick for the European side.

Earlier this week, Wallace arrived in Crans-sur-Sierre with a "heavy heart", suggesting he had not done enough to be considered for a wildcard.

Donald will name his six picks on Monday, and Wallace is among a small group of players teeing it up in Switzerland this week with an outside chance of making the European team with an eye-catching performance.

The 35-year-old claimed his fifth DP World Tour title at this venue last year, edging out Alfredo Garcia-Heredia in a playoff, and only a repeat result would put him in the frame for the Ryder Cup.

"I feel proud, it's great to be back here," said the defending champion. "It was really nice to be back out there and reminiscing about some of the shots from last year.

"I did an interview in Scotland where I was at my lowest moment, but I picked up again when the Ryder Cup points started and then I was able to come here and win. It has always been a driving force for me. Hopefully I can make that team at least one time in my career.

"It's been a hard couple of weeks, probably more emotionally than physically, wanting to show myself and try to get into the Ryder Cup team when it means so much to you. You give it everything and I just haven’t had it. 

"I won’t give up, there is an extra week. I don’t believe I will be able to get a pick but it is out of my control and my hands so we will leave it up to Luke."

Donald is widely expected to name Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka and Matt Fitzpatrick as his captains picks on Monday, meaning his European team would feature 11 of the 12 players who roared to victory in Rome two years ago.

Rasmus Hojgaard secured his debut when qualifying finished after the British Masters last week, snatching the sixth and final automatic place away from Lowry, and the Dane is group with Fitzpatrick for the first two rounds in Switzerland this week.

Fitzpatrick believes Donald has already got his line-up set, and that even a big win for one of the outside candidates this week is unlikely to prompt a late change of mind.

"Managing my energy and managing my expectations has been the biggest focus, not thinking about needing to get a result here for the Ryder Cup," said Fitzpatrick. "That's probably helped my form in general.

"But also with it being so close to the picks now, my guess is Luke may have already made up his mind whether it's going to happen or not.

"This week might not be as strong a case as last week or the previous two or three weeks. So, I'm just going out here to try and win this tournament this week and then enjoy myself. So, I'll be focused on that."