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. Jim Furyk, 5,875
3. Jimmy Walker, 5,510
4. Rickie Fowler, 5,403
5. Dustin Johnson, 5,133
6. Matt Kuchar, 4,999
7. Jordan Spieth, 4,781
8. Jason Dufner, 3,516
9. Zach Johnson, 3,450
10. Patrick Reed, 3,301
11. Phil Mickelson, 3,252
12. Brendon Todd, 3,250
Notes:
• Jim Furyk may be 0-for-his-last-7 when it comes to holding on to 54-hole leads, but with his runner-up in Canada the 44-year-old locked up a spot on the Ryder Cup team. Last year’s Presidents Cup ended a run of 15 consecutive team competitions played. His career record in the Ryder Cup: 9-17-4.
• There are only two more weeks to qualify for the U.S. team based on points, and the top seven players seem like good bets to make the team, barring the double whammy of poor play and victories by those just outside the top-9 cutoff.
• This is an important two-week stretch for both Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who are Nos. 11 and 70, respectively. As it stands right now, both would require a pick by Watson. He only has three picks.
EUROPEANS
European Points List (top 4 qualify)
1. Rory McIlroy, 3,051,298
2. Victor Dubuisson, 2,631,723
3. Jamie Donaldson, 2,398,823
4. Henrik Stenson, 2,393,503
5. Thomas Bjorn, 2,351,204
6. Martin Kaymer, 1,968,602
7. Ian Poulter, 1,910,151
8. Justin Rose, 1,846,094
9. Sergio Garcia, 1,835,656
10. Joost Luiten, 1,568,079
World Points List (top 5)
1. Rory McIlroy, 358
2. Henrik Stenson, 346
3. Sergio Garcia, 317
4. Justin Rose, 261
5. Martin Kaymer, 245
6. Thomas Bjorn, 193
7. Victor Dubuisson, 186
8. Luke Donald, 162
9. Jamie Donaldson, 162
10. Graeme McDowell, 155
Notes:
• Graeme McDowell may be No. 10 on the World Points List, but he’s made it awfully difficult for McGinley to overlook him. G-Mac’s T-9 finish in Canada was his fourth top 10 in a row, which includes a come-from-behind win at the French Open.
• After Bernhard Langer’s blowout victory at the Senior British Open, there has been some debate as to whether the 56-year-old warrants a spot on the team. No doubt he is playing incredible golf at the moment, but let’s end the talk here. Among those players who would currently need a pick in order to make the team: Luke Donald, McDowell, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood. There is too much depth to make a sympathetic choice.
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