Report: European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald keeping close tabs on LIV's David Puig

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is reportedly keeping a close watch on LIV Golf's David Puig, according to English pro Eddie Pepperell. 

Qualification for the European team concludes at the British Masters, with former World No.1 Donald naming his six captain's picks the week beginning 1 September. 

At this stage, Donald's team is expected to largely remain unchanged from the dozen that comfortably beat Team USA by five points in Rome two years ago. 

Masters champion Rory McIlroy is expected to be joined by Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Sepp Straka, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Ludvig Aberg and Robert MacIntyre. 

MacIntyre, Fleetwood, Hatton, Lowry and Straka currently occupy the five remaining automatic qualifying berths. 

Donald, therefore, is very likely going to face a difficult choice over which two players to include. 

There are plenty of options at his disposal. 

Nicolai Hojgaard is worthy of consideration and made his debut in the contest last time out, but his brother Rasmus appears to be above the pecking order at present. 

Belgium's Thomas Detry is now a PGA Tour winner, while there are strong cases to be made for the likes of Aaron Rai, Matt Wallace, Harry Hall and even Jordan Smith. 

And what about Sergio Garcia? Europe's record points scorer got his membership back with the DP World Tour in a bid to make his 11th appearance in the blue and gold. 

Garcia started the year with a bang, winning LIV's event in Hong Kong but did not produce the form he believes he is still capable of in the majors. 

The Spaniard, 45, missed the cut at The Masters and wasn't a factor at all at the PGA Championship or The Open. He did not qualify for the US Open. 

Pepperell told the most recent instalment of The Chipping Forecast, though, he's heard from his pal and fellow pro Laurie Canter that Donald is keeping tabs on David Puig. 

Puig joined LIV in 2022 as an amateur, but linked up with Garcia's Fireballs after turning professional. 

The 23-year-old is yet to win on the PIF-backed breakaway, but has secured two victories on the Asian Tour. 

"One name that Laurie threw out there on our holiday which was a bit left field but one that I could see was David Puig as somebody he that thought Luke Donald was looking at," Pepperell said. 

"Apparently, statistically, he is very strong. He's had some good performances when he has played outside of LIV. He hits the ball a long way. 

"He would, again, need to show some form somewhere. I think it may be too soon [but] he's definitely a future star, but that was a left-field choice."

Pepperell also explained he's not sure about Rai being included as he worries about his putting. 

He would pick Rasmus Hojgaard ahead of the 30-year-old Englishman. 

"I think that's what's quite appealing about Rasmus Hojgaard, he's a fantastic putter and he's a player that when he's on he is world class."

He added: "One thing that Rasmus has going for him, he hits his irons incredibly high, so around a course like Bethpage, that's going to be quite a skill actually, an asset to have in your game."

Donald is no stranger to making bold choices. 

The aforementioned Aberg was only a few months into his professional career and was yet to play in a major championship when he was given the nod to represent Europe at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. 

Few now have little doubt the Swede will win majors over the next decade and could one day be a contender to be the top-ranked golfer in the world.