European qualifying for the 2016 Ryder Cup will begin at this September's M2M Russian Open in Moscow.
Darren Clarke, the captain of Team Europe, made the announcement during the build up to this week's Irish Open and also confirmed that he will be sticking to the same system employed for the 2014 qualifying process.
That means the first four players in the team for the defence of the cup at Hazeltine next September will come from the European points list with the next five players coming from a world points list.
Clarke will then have the task of choosing three wild cards to complete his team in the days after the conclusion of the final qualifying tournament.
"I am delighted that we are able to announce the start of the qualification for the 2016 European Ryder Cup team," said Clarke. "This signals the start of what I know will be an intense and exciting period for me personally and for everyone involved with the European Tour.
"The qualification period is a truly global affair now and many of the players that will make the team will do so by playing in many tournaments around the world.
"However, as I said when I was announced as captain, I'm focused on assembling the best team possible to represent Europe and I think this system gives me the opportunity to do just that."
Meanwhile, Carin Koch, the captain of Europe's Solheim Cup team, has unveiled her Swedish compatriots, Sophie Gustafson and Maria McBride, nee Hjorth, as her vice-captains for the match against the USA later this season.
Gustafson made eight Solheim Cup appearances between 1998 and 2011, winning four points from four matches in Ireland four years ago, while McBride, a graduate of Stirling University, featured five times between 2002 and 2011.
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