Bernhard Langer believes his third place in The Open at Royal Lytham should justify a Ryder Cup spot.

Langer shared a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round on Sunday, but eventually fell back into third as David Duval claimed the title.

The result at Royal Lytham has moved the German into 14th in the Ryder Cup points list, but he is still four places outside the automatic choices list.

There are eight remaining events where Langer and other contenders can improve their position before the Cup at the Belfry in September.

But, as Langer spends most of his time on the US Tour, he will probably need to rely on a wild-card pick from captain Sam Torrance.

The 43-year-old said: "I hope this sends Sam another message after my performance in Memphis [where he finished second in the FedEx St Jude Classic].

"I was also best European in the Masters, I was second best here and I was best in the fifth Major which is the Tournament Players Championship.

"So I was very much at the top of European golf in three of the biggest events we have played this year.

"I've had other good performances so hopefully he will consider me if I don't make my way straight in.

A back problem forced Langer to withdraw from last week's Scottish Open and almost made him to miss his 24th Championship.

But he bounced back this week to record his sixth top-three Open finish, four shots behind winner Duval with rounds of 71, 69, 67 and 71.

"I was very happy to be playing in the Championship after last week and then to be in contention in the final group with David I was even more pleased," said Langer.

"I felt very good and very comfortable but I just couldn't get the ball close enough.

"I shot one over on the par fives which is what really killed me.

"If I'd got two or three under it would have been a different story."

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Leading places in the European Ryder Cup list:

Europe:
1 D Clarke (N Ire) 1,921,301;
2 T Bjorn (Den) 1,583,391;
3 P Harrington (Ire) 1,535,549;
4 P Fulke (Swe) 1,191,990;
5 L Westwood (Eng) 1,064,353;
6 N Fasth (Swe) 961,147;
7 C Montgomerie (Sco) 895,274;
8 P Price (Wal) 791,862;
9 P McGinley (Ire) 759,242;
10 A Coltart (Sco) 703,676;
11 M Gronberg (Swe) 696,488;
12 I Woosnam (Wal) 673,298;
13 A Oldcorn (Sco) 651,685;
14 B Langer (Ger) 642,785;
15 R Karlsson (Swe) 641,104;
16 MA Jimenez (Spa) 628,421;
17 JM Olazabal (Spa) 617,626;
18 S Garcia (Spa) 617,236;
19 T Levet (Fra) �576,235;
20 I Poulter (Eng) 571,316.
*Leading 10 qualify on 2 September, captain Sam Torrance then adds two wild cards.