While there is nearly a year to go until the Ryder Cup gets underway at Whistling Straits, having been postponed one year due to COVID-19, there is quite a squad taking shape for the U.S. Team. The top 6 in the Ryder Cup point standings will automatically qualify for the team, the criteria having been modified from the top eight players due to COVID-19, and the rest of the team will be rounded out by six Captain’s Selections from Steve Stricke. Previously the Captain received four picks. The current automatic qualifiers for the U.S. Team are chock full of talent and all are major champions – Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Webb Simpson.
DeChambeau was the latest to join the pack of major winners with his victory at the U.S. Open on Sunday. He took advantage of the double points on the line at major championships to vault from No. 6 to No. 2 in the point standings. DeChambeau has nine more top 10s over the last year that led to his rise in the standings and likely an automatic qualifying position come 2021. At the 2018 Ryder Cup he relied on a Captain’s Selection from Jim Furyk to compete for the first time on the U.S. Team.
Matthew Wolff finished runner-up to DeChambeau at the U.S. Open to make a significant leap in the standings from No. 19 to No. 11. With four more top 10s over the last year on the PGA Tour, the 21-year old has positioned himself to make a run at qualifying for his first Ryder Cup team if he can continue his consistency over the next year. Wolff will be one of many players to watch as the team continues to take shape. Currently sitting on the bubble and hoping to play their way onto the team or catch Captain Stricker’s attention are No. 7 Xander Schauffele, No. 8 Patrick Reed, No. 9 Tony Finau and No. 10 Daniel Berger.
