2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Race: The Home Stretch

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Phil Mickelson 2016 Ryder Cup
Phil Mickelson tees off on the 6th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2016 Ryder Cup matches. (Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis Sport via Getty Images)

In just under two months, the 2018 Ryder Cup will tee off at Le Golf National in Paris, France. There are hundreds of players on Tour who would kill to be a part of that 12-man team, but opportunities to represent Team America are running out.

Phil Mickelson 2016 Ryder Cup
Phil Mickelson tees off on the 6th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2016 Ryder Cup matches. Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis Sport via Getty Images

Under the U.S. Ryder Cup points system, only PGA Tour events earn points that count toward the eight automatic berths that lock in after the final putt of next week’s PGA Championship.

This week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will be the penultimate event of the year awarding Ryder Cup points. Those who still have more work to make up upon leaving Akron will need to impress at next week’s PGA Championship. At that point, the top eight in the American Ryder Cup standings will automatically be named to the team.

Those who do not make the team via the rankings are not quite done, but to snag one of the remaining four spots, anyone else will need to impress American captain Jim Furyk, who will be making three wildcard picks (termed “Captain’s selections) after the Dell Technologies Championship, the second round of the FedExCup Playoffs, and the final pick after the following week’s BMW Championship.

In the current Ryder Cup Standings, Brooks Koekpa, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed have mathematically clinched spots on the American team. Justin Thomas is basically a lock as well, while Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth would need something drastic to happen to miss out. It gets interesting after that, with Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Webb Simpson – for now – in a three-man battle for the final automatic berth.

Phil Mickelson, at No.10, is 157 points ($157,000) behind Webb Simpson, while DeChambeau is just 41 points ($41,000) back. Jim Furyk is going to have some tough decisions after the top 8 are locked in following the PGA Championship.

CLINCHED

1. Brooks Koepka – 8981.471*
2. Dustin Johnson – 8925.287*
3. Patrick Reed – 7740.630*
4. Justin Thomas – 6727.053
5. Bubba Watson – 5509.387
6. Jordan Spieth – 5148.306
7. Rickie Fowler – 4620.241
8. Webb Simpson – 4277.808
9. Bryson DeChambeau – 4236.858
10. Phil Mickelson – 4120.703
* clinched Ryder Cup berth

NEXT 10

11. Xander Schauffele – 3803.703
12. Matt Kuchar – 3715.446
13. Kevin Kisner – 3332.251
14. Tony Finau – 3301.224
15. Brian Harman – 3241.907
16. Kevin Na – 3051.273
17. Aaron Wise – 2378.567
18. Zach Johnson – 2371.896
19. Kyle Stanley – 2362.166
20. Tiger Woods – 2340.044

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