Back-To-Back Wins for Lucas Glover as Players Push to Make U.S. Ryder Cup Team

Only the recent sweltering heat in Memphis has been hotter than Lucas Glover.

Or has it?

With the heat index tapping out at 109 degrees Sunday at TPC Southwind, Glover edged Patrick Cantlay on the first playoff hole at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first of three FedExCup playoff events, for his second win in as many weeks.

Glover, 43, was 112th in the FedExCup standings entering last week's regular-season finale at the Wyndham Championship. Now, however, he's fourth, while also surging from 117th to 30th in the Official World Golf Ranking following his back-to-back victories.

"If you would have told me this three months ago, I’d tell you you’re crazy," said Glover, who has shot in the 60s in 21 of his last 22 Tour rounds. "But at the same time, if you asked me legitimately did I think I was capable, I’d say yes."

The playoff standings and world rankings, though, isn't the only place the 2009 U.S. Open champion has soared in the past two weeks. Glover was 64th in U.S. Ryder Cup Rankings two weeks ago. Then, he jumped to 35th with his Wyndham win and now sits 16th. A third straight victory would likely qualify him for his first Ryder Cup, but he feels he's done enough the past two months – five top-10s in his last six starts – to earn a captain's pick following the Tour Championship.

"Right now, yes," Glover said when asked if he’d pick himself for the U.S. Team. "Playing pretty good golf, and I think I'd be pretty good in the team room and be a good partner, so yeah, absolutely I would."

Cantlay, meanwhile, shot a final-round 64 and was tied with Glover at 15 under following 72 holes in Memphis. But on the first bonus hole, his tee shot trickled into the water and then lost the tournament when his 20-foot par putt scratched the cup's right edge without dropping.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

If there’s any consolation for Cantlay, it’s that he rose from sixth to third in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings with the top six in points automatically qualifying after this week’s BMW Championship at Olympia Fields.

Glover and Cantlay, however, weren’t the only players at the playoff opener who improved their bid for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Max Homa placed T-6 for his best finish since The Players Championship and moved from seventh to sixth in the rankings, inside the top 6 automatic qualifying threshold.

Jordan Spieth tied with Homa for his first top-10 since The Memorial and jumped from ninth to eighth.

One stroke back of Spieth and Homa at 10 under was Morikawa, who slid from 11th to 10th.

With only two events left this season, and one week until the first six qualifiers are announced, time is of the essence when it comes to players strengthening their case for the U.S. Ryder Cup squad. However, Glover has shown that things can change drastically in just two weeks.

U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:

- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)

- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.

The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.

For a full list of the Top 100 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, click here.