US Ryder Cup team taking shape

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With seven of the eight automatic spots on the US team already secured ahead of last week’s US PGA Championship, the final major of the year held even greater significance for those still vying for the sole-remaining Ryder Cup spot.

Phil Mickelson occupied 8th place heading into the final qualifying event at Kiawah Island and needed a strong week to secure his ninth consecutive appearance in the Ryder Cup.

Bo Van Pelt was earmarked as his biggest threat after the first three rounds and needed a second-place finish to leapfrog the 42-year-old.

However, despite challenging atop the leaderboard for much of the week, Van Pelt’s charge faded on Sunday after bogeying three of his last five holes. He eventually finished in a tie for 18th – outside the automatic spots.

Likewise, Steve Stricker was also in contention and needed to finish at least third to dislodge the four-time major champion. Yet despite ending the tournament strongly with a string of birdies late on, the 45-year-old fell one-shot short of a tie for third.

Consequently, all eight spots remained largely unchanged with Tiger Woods, a captain’s pick in 2010, finishing top of the standings.

Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar join the 14-time major champion in Davis Love III’s side and help to form a blend of experience and youthful exuberance.

The four captain’s picks will be chosen early next month and with a host of in-form candidates to choose from, some big names look set to miss out.

Previous Ryder Cup experience could stand the likes of Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson in good stead, while Brandt Snedeker’s recent form could also earn him a place in the team.

The experienced duo of Stricker and Jim Furyk are similarly in contention, while Van Pelt, David Toms and Bill Haas remain in the mix as well.

As a result, the next three tournaments look set to prove pivotal in Love’s selection process, with the Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club now just over six weeks away.

Current US Ryder Cup team

1. Tiger Woods
2. Bubba Watson
3. Jason Dufner
4. Keegan Bradley
5. Webb Simpson
6. Zach Johnson
7. Matt Kuchar
8. Phil Mickelson

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