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G-Mac helps Ryder candidacy with French Open win

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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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McIlroy would 'love' to play with G-Mac at Ryder Cup

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Rory McIlroy says that his ongoing legal dispute with his former management company won’t shake up one of Europe’s most dynamic Ryder Cup partnerships.

Graeme McDowell’s name was dragged into court last month when McIlroy’s legal team argued that the former world No. 1 received “markedly inferior” conditions than McDowell when both were represented by Horizon Sports Management. There also were reports that Mcllroy “orchestrated” the timing of the lawsuit to coincide with G-Mac’s wedding, though McIlroy has vehemently denied those claims.

Talking to reporters at the unveiling of the Nike performance facility at Archerfield Links in Scotland, McIlroy was asked whether the lawsuit would disrupt team chemistry at Gleneagles. 

“It won’t – that is complete nonsense,” McIlroy said, according to the Scotsman. “G-Mac knows what is going on. It hasn’t affected our relationship in any way. 

“At times it’s awkward because he’s with someone (Horizon), but at the end of the day, we are the same two people we were. I would love to tee it up with G-Mac in the Ryder Cup and (European captain) Paul McGinley knows that.” 

McIlroy and McDowell have been partners at the World Cup, Seve Trophy and Ryder Cup in both 2010 and ’12. McIlroy seems a lock for this year’s squad, while McDowell boosted his chances with a come-from-behind victory Sunday at the French Open.  

As for the status of their relationship, McIlroy, who is playing in this week’s Scottish Open, said that he is still very close to McDowell.

“There’s obviously been a few things that have gone on that have strained the relationship, but I still talk to him regularly and catch up with him,” McIlroy said, according to the report. “He has stayed out of everything as much as he can and there’s no ill feeling toward him in any way from my side. He’s been one of my best friends on tour and showed me the ropes. I will always be grateful for what he’s done and for going out of his way to make me feel comfortable out here.”

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G-Mac helps Ryder candidacy with French Open win

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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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McDowell claims French Open as Stadler stumbles

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Graeme McDowell said earlier in the week that if Kevin Stadler kept playing the way he was playing, no one was going to catch him. Fortunately for him, Stadler stumbled on Sunday and McDowell’s steady 67 in rainy conditions was enough to wrestle the French Open trophy away from the 54-hole leader. While Stadler certainly had an off day, it was his missed 3-footer on 18 to force a playoff that will probably sting the most. McDowell’s 8-stroke comeback marked his 10th European Tour victory, his first since last year’s French Open when he beat Richard Sterne by four strokes. 

Leaderboard: Graeme McDowell (-5), Thongchai Jaidee (-4), Kevin Stadler (-4), Robert Karlsson (-3), Matthew Baldwin (-2), Jamie Donaldson (-2), Michael Hoey (-1)

What it means: G-Mac’s Sunday charge was the largest comeback on the European Tour this season and likely locks up his spot on the European Ryder Cup team, either by points, or now a much easier captain’s pick by Paul McGinley. 

Round of the day: While the rest of the field struggled with the conditions, evidenced by only seven players finishing the tournament under par, McDowell looked at ease Sunday, making five birdies, only dropping a shot on his final hole of the day.

Best of the rest: Paraguy’s Fabrizio Zanotti matched McDowell’s 67 on Sunday, but still finished the tournament 1 over. Karlsson and Donaldson shot matching 2-under 69s to move into the mix, though neither was ever seriously in contention to win.

Biggest disappointment: If Stadler didn’t win this tournament after leading since Day 1 and by four after the third round, this was his dubious honor to claim. And that’s exactly what he did, closing with a 5-over 76 in tough conditions. After a tough stretch on the front nine where he went 5 over through four holes, he fought back with three birdies on the back side before missing a 3-footer on the last that would’ve forced a playoff.

Quote of the Day: “That’s not the way you want to win but we’ll take it.” – McDowell.

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