Cantlay closing in on Ryder Cup spot
Patrick Cantlay has almost certainly played his way onto the United States Ryder Cup team, and he’s closing in on an automatic spot on the 12-man squad that will take on Team Europe in September.
Cantlay rose six spots to No. 8 in the U.S. team points standings following his second win of the season at the Memorial on Sunday. The top six spots will earn automatic spots on the team, with Steve Stricker naming his six captain’s picks after the Tour Championship in August.
Cantlay also returned to the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, leaping eight spots to No. 7 — one shy of his career high. He won at Muirfield Village in a playoff over Collin Morikawa, who still rose two spots to No. 4 with his runner-up finish.
Morikawa also moved up one spot in the Ryder Cup standings and is now behind only Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. Following Morikawa are Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed, who finished fifth on Sunday.
After Cantlay are Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger and Webb Simpson in the top 12. Stricker figures to have some difficult decisions ahead with the likes of Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler, Jason Kokrak, Harris English and Phil Mickelson
just behind them.
All but Scheffler have a win during the 202021 PGA Tour season, although Scheffler did rise seven spots to No. 17 with his solo third place at the Memorial.
Rising PGA Tour rookie Will Zalatoris fell one spot
to No. 20 in the Ryder Cup standings, just behind another first-time winner this year in Sam Burns.
The U.S. will take on Team Europe at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in September’s Ryder Cup, which was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.