PGA Championship Performance Solidifies Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup Chances

A super Sunday makes it likely Woods will go to France to defend the cup for the U.S.

Tiger Woods in 2018. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America via Getty Images)
Tiger Woods in 2018. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America via Getty Images)
PGA

When the U.S. Ryder Cup team is in France next month to defend their title, Tiger Woods will likely be on the squad after his excellent showing on Sunday at the PGA Championship.

Woods, who came close to taking first at Bellerive Country Club with a 64-shot final round, would have locked up his spot had he won on Sunday, but his strong performance makes it likely team captain Jim Furyk will pick him for the squad anyway.

The top eight spots in the Ryder Cup standings – which include an automatic berth to the team – are now locked up and belong to Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and Webb Simpson.

That leaves four captain’s selections up for grabs, which Furyk will hand out next month.

Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson will likely each get one, as will Woods – who will be in France as a co-captain but not necessarily a player regardless – thanks to what he accomplished at the PGA Championship.

“I do want to be on the team as a player. I’m going to be there either way,” Woods said. “Our captain has some decisions to make after the first (FedEx Cup) playoff events, and we’ll sit down and give him our input and what we think and who should be on the team, and who can contribute to the team and hopefully my name will be part of that process.”

Xander Schauffele, Kevin Kisner, Tony Finau, Zach Johnson, and Matt Kuchar are all also in the mix for one of the four captain’s selections spots.

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