This could be the most hotly contested Ryder Cup yet – and we’re talking about just making the team.
So, each Monday, GolfChannel.com will take a way-too-early look at the players who are vying for one of the 12 spots on the team. Nine players make the squad via their respective points list, and both captain Tom Watson and Paul McGinley will have three wild-card picks apiece.
AMERICANS
The current top 12:
1. Bubba Watson, 6,704
2. Jimmy Walker, 4,956
3. Matt Kuchar, 4,370
4. Jordan Spieth, 4,186
5. Dustin Johnson, 4,110
6. Jim Furyk, 3,989
7. Jason Dufner, 3,466
8. Patrick Reed, 3,038
9. Chris Kirk, 2,901
10. Phil Mickelson, 2,836
11. Zach Johnson, 2,799
12. Harris English, 2,717
Notes:
• Watson solidified his spot atop the points standings with another high finish, this time a solo third at the Memorial. He now leads by more than 700 points.
• A final-round 68 vaulted Chris Kirk all the way to T-4 at Muirfield Village, and also moved him from 12th to ninth in points. As a result, Phil Mickelson moved from ninth to 10th in the standings, meaning he is no longer in line for one of the automatic spots.
• Kevin Na, who was the runner-up in Ohio and earned his third top-3 finish of the season, jumped from 24th to 14th.
• This week’s Where-is-Tiger? update: Down from 62nd to 64th.
EUROPEANS
European Points List (top 4 qualify)
1. Victor Dubuisson, 2,427,714
2. Thomas Bjorn, 2,221,181
3. Jamie Donaldson, 2,204,898
4. Henrik Stenson, 1,976,067
5. Ian Poulter, 1,817,816
6. Rory McIlroy, 1,712,191
7. Miguel Angel Jimemez, 1,452,478
8. Joost Luiten, 1,450,345
9. Stephen Gallacher, 1,261,350
10. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 1,261,024
World Points List (top 5)
1. Henrik Stenson, 303
2. Rory McIlroy, 247
3. Sergio Garcia, 235
4. Thomas Bjorn, 180
5. Victor Dubuisson, 168
6. Luke Donald, 156
7. Jamie Donaldson, 145
8. Justin Rose, 145
9. Martin Kaymer, 140
10. Ian Poulter, 132
Notes:
• Victor Dubuisson, a virtual lock for the Ryder Cup team, and Stephen Gallacher, a hopeful, each helped their position with their playoff performance at the Nordea Masters. Thongchai Jaidee won the event.
• Lee Westwood is No. 14 and No. 15 on the European and World points lists, respectively.
• Another player outside the top 15 in both: Graeme McDowell.
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