Stricker Leads U.S. Ryder Cup Standings; McIlroy & Kaymer Top European Points


Thanks to his two wins last year and victory in the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Steve Stricker leads the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. The 39th Ryder Cup will be held September 28-30, 2012, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

American players are awarded one point for every $1,000 earned in "official" events through August 12. The points will determine the top-eight players, with captain Davis Love III selecting four players as his "captain's picks" in September to complete the 12-man team.

Points are based upon the following:

• Prize money earned in the 2011 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship): One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

• Prize money earned in 2012 "official" events from January 1 through August 12: one point is awarded for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite World Golf Championships; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

• Prize money earned for the 2012 major championships: (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and the PGA Championship). Two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

• Prize money earned in 2012 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between January 1 and the PGA Championship, August 12 - one-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

U.S. Ryder Cup Points (through the Sony Open)

1. Steve Stricker 1683.07571
2. Keegan Bradley 1647.16667
3. Johnson Wagner
1172.50000 4. Jason Dufner 865.00000
5. Phil Mickelson 847.14328
6. Dustin Johnson 802.99200
7. Harrison Frazar 707.72400
8. Webb Simpson 610.86900
9. D.A. Points 496.06250
10. Sean O'Hair 477.40000
11. Charles Howell III 470.93550
12. David Toms 467.40000
13. Ryan Palmer 441.59028
14. Gary Woodland 396.77471
15. Bo Van Pelt 390.08800
16. Robert Garrigus 379.99100
17. Kevin Chappell 376.12100
18. Jonathan Byrd 369.00000
19. Rickie Fowler 347.40500
20. Davis Love III 346.16600
21. Bill Haas 345.81171
22. Scott Verplank 331.00000
23. Tiger Woods 330.66700
24. Kevin Na 318.00000
25. Anthony Kim 314.89700

2012 European Tour Points (through January 15, 2012)

1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 137.52
2. Luke Donald (ENG) 133.21
3. Martin Kaymer (GER) 110.29
4. Lee Westwood (ENG) 98.61
5. Gonzalo Fedz-Castano (ESP) 92.83
6. Justin Rose (ENG) 88.13
7. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 80.10
8. Simon Dyson (ENG) 73.08
9. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 70.26
10. Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 68.19
11. Joost Luiten (NED) 65.16
12. Paul Casey (ENG) 61.09
13. Michael Hoey (NIR) 58.91
14. Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 57.67
15. Peter Hanson (SWE) 57.08
16. Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 56.94
17. Ian Poulter (ENG) 50.99
18. David Lynn (ENG) 49.73
19. Paul Lawrie (SCO) 45.84
20. Richie Ramsay (SCO) 45.61
21. Grégory Havret (FRA) 45.06
22. Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 42.58
23. Sam Little (ENG) 40.70
24. Robert Karlsson (SWE) 38.65
25. Shane Lowry (IRL) 38.47

European Ryder Cup Points (through the Joburg Open)

1. Martin Kaymer (GER) 1,284,550.37
2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 1,236,326.08
3. Gonzalo Fedz-Castano (ESP) 1,099,585.09
4. Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 1,047,153.32
5. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 938,511.58
6. Paul Lawrie (SCO) 747,705.17
7. Michael Hoey (NIR) 711,788.31
8. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 679,180.81
9. Joost Luiten (NED) 669,621.62
10. Peter Hansen (SWE) 646,533.67
11. Richie Ramsay (SCO) 556,727.09
12. Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 537,791.67
13. Grégory Havret (FRA) 524,333.64
14. Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 516,886.62
15. David Lynn (ENG) 512,102.66
16. Simon Dyson (ENG) 502,040.61
17. Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 473,747.38
18. Tom Lewis (ENG) 459,265.92
19. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 451,316.26
20. Luke Donald (ENG) 438,026.66
21. Shane Lowry (IRL) 409,246.43
22. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 367,148.82
23. George Murray (SCO) 361,548.37
24. Steve Webster (ENG) 339,060.35
25. Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 306,811.79

The European Team will be selected employing the following criteria:

• The leading five players on The Ryder Cup European Points List (1) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on The 2012 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

• The leading five players, not otherwise qualified (having selected the five players from The Ryder Cup European Points List) from The Ryder Cup World Points List (2) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking.

• Captain José Maria Olazábal will choose the remaining two players following the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

• The Ryder Cup European Points List will comprise points (1 point = 1 Euro) earned by a European Tour Member from all officially sanctioned European Tour tournaments on The European Tour Race to Dubai from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012.

• The Ryder Cup World Points List will comprise World Ranking Points won by a European Tour Member from each tournament in which he participates from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. World Ranking Points are allocated to all officially sanctioned tournaments (on any Federated Tour) by the Official World Golf Ranking and are allocated according to the Event Rating of the tournament.

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.