This could be the most hotly contested Ryder Cup ever – and we’re talking about just making the team.
So, each Monday, GolfChannel.com will take a 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, 6,828
2. Jimmy Walker, 5,379
3. Dustin Johnson, 4,844
4. Matt Kuchar, 4,716
5. Jordan Spieth, 4,547
6. Jim Furyk, 4,302
7. Rickie Fowler, 3,831
8. Jason Dufner, 3,466
9. Patrick Reed, 3,301
10. Brendon Todd, 3,177
11. Phil Mickelson, 3,095
12. Webb Simpson, 3,086
Notes:
• There was no movement among the top 9 in the standings.
• After a T-4 at the Greenbrier – his sixth top 20 in a row – Brendon Todd moved from No. 13 to No. 10. Just a reminder that he spent half of last season on the Web.com circuit.
• Webb Simpson’s final-round 63 gave him solo third at the Greenbrier, and a big move in the standings. He jumped from 17th to 12th.
• The players who, right now, would need a captain’s pick to be on the Ryder Cup team: Phil Mickelson (11th), Harris English (14th), Zach Johnson (15th), Keegan Bradley (16th), Brandt Snedeker (28th), Hunter Mahan (35th), Steve Stricker (42nd) and Tiger Woods (72nd).
EUROPEANS
European Points List (top 4 qualify):
1. Victor Dubuisson, 2,490,346
2. Jamie Donaldson, 2,395,561
3. Henrik Stenson, 2,366,878
4. Thomas Bjorn, 2,264,081
5. Martin Kaymer, 1,953,042
6. Ian Poulter, 1,905,382
7. Rory McIlroy, 1,771,417
8. Joost Luiten, 1,550,520
9. Miguel Angel Jimenez, 1,504,340
10. Graeme McDowell, 1,381,140
World Points List (top 5):
1. Henrik Stenson, 343
2. Sergio Garcia, 267
3. Rory McIlroy, 253
4. Martin Kaymer, 244
5. Justin Rose, 203
6. Thomas Bjorn, 186
7. Victor Dubuisson, 172
8. Jamie Donaldson, 162
9. Luke Donald, 156
10. Ian Poulter, 147
Notes:
• Graeme McDowell’s win in France certainly helped his Ryder Cup candidacy, but he’ll have to produce similar results in the next few months if he wants to lock up an automatic spot. His defense moved him only up to No. 10 on the European Points list, about 900,000 points behind the fourth and final automatic spot. (He is No. 12 on the World Points list.) That said, G-Mac’s good form obviously will catch the eye of captain Paul McGinley.
• Among the Ryder Cup hopefuls in this week’s Scottish Open: Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Jonas Blixt and Stephen Gallacher.
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