Six over par with 10 holes to play and heading out of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, the final qualifying event, Wilson grabbed an eagle and two birdies to survive the halfway cut by the skin of his teeth.

Minutes later German Martin Kaymer, his biggest danger in the race for places in Nick Faldo's team, missed four-foot putts on the final two greens to miss out by one.

"I'm proud of myself," said Wilson, poised now to become the first player ever to play for Europe against the Americans without winning a tournament in his professional career.

"That was the biggest round of my career. It was not the front nine I wanted, but it was the back nine I needed."

Wilson now has to hold off the challenge of only Nick Dougherty and Ross Fisher to claim his Ryder Cup place.

Frenchman Gregory Havret leads on seven under par at Gleneagles, adding a two under 71 to his opening 68.