By James Crook

169178040May 21 - Europe's Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has had the amount of player picks he is permitted to make for the 2014 event at Gleneagles in Scotland increased to three after gaining permission from the European Tour.

Speaking today at Wentworth, host venue for this week's Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Championship, the Irishman said that although it will be tough for lower-ranked players to make the team, he will not discount them when it comes to making his selections.

"Those who are not fortunate enough to be in the top 50 of the world rankings and are not in the WGCs or the majors are going to really be behind the eight-ball," he said.

"What I'm trying to say to them is that if they play very well in the rank-and-file European Tour events and perform week in, week out, that's going to weigh heavily in terms of being a potential pick."

51324974McGinley refused to close the door on any player, including Ryder Cup veteran Bernhard Langer, who captained Europe to victory in 2004

McGinley even kept the door open for 55-year-old German Bernhard Langer, who competed in his first Ryder Cup in 1981 and captained Europe to a crushing win on American soil in 2004.

"If Bernhard wins the Masters or an Open championship my attitude would be, 'Wonderful, I'd love to have him in the team'," he said.

"I want to keep all my options open whether it be a Bernhard Langer or a young rookie coming through.

"I'm not ruling anybody out and with three picks it means I can keep my eye on all of those things."

His American counterpart Tom Watson will also get three of his own selection slots for the 2014 edition of the biennial event after he chose to reduce his number of picks from the four that have been permitted at the last three Ryder Cups. 

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