ST. LOUIS: Nobody moved in or out of the top eight on the American Ryder Cup standings after the PGA Championship but Tiger Woods removed any question about whether he would be worthy of a captain’s pick.
There was some shuffling in the American deck at the final event before automatic qualification for the Sept. 28-30 battle with Europe in Paris was awarded to the top eight on the points list.
By winning at Bellerive, Brooks Koepka finished top of the standings ahead of Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson.
Captain Jim Furyk will pick four others – three on Sept. 3 and the final choice on Sept. 9.
Woods, in finishing runner-up on Sunday, jumped from 20th to 11th in the standings, behind Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.
It is inconceivable that Furyk would leave out Woods given his form in the past two majors and his experience of seven previous Ryder Cups.
Sixteen months after a spinal fusion that was successful beyond his wildest dreams, the 42-year-old is back as one of the best players in the world.
“I’m just pleased with what I’ve done so far, and now to be part of the Ryder Cup conversation, from where I’ve come to now, it’s been pretty cool,” 14-times major champion Woods said.