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How the race to play in the Ryder Cup looks with six months to go

By Ali Stafford

Wednesday 28 September 2016 16:28, UK

Danny Willett and Andy Sullivan are both well placed to make Ryder Cup debuts this autumn
Image: Danny Willett and Andy Sullivan are both well placed to make Ryder Cup debuts this autumn

It's six months today until Europe begin their bid for a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory. We look at how the two sides are shaping up for Hazeltine as things stand.

Team Europe

Defending Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy tops the standings after following last year's DP World Tour Championship victory with top-six finishes in each of his four European Tour events so far this season.

The world No 3's semi-final finish at last week's WGC-Dell Match Play extended his points advantage over Danny Willett, who topped the list for several weeks after Dubai Desert Classic victory.

Sullivan narrowly missed out on Dubai victory
Image: Andy Sullivan narrowly missed out on victory at the Dubai Desert Classic

Andy Sullivan broke in to the world's top 30 when he followed his three wins in 2015 with a near-miss on the Desert Swing in Dubai, with Matt Fitzpatrick completing the top-four on the European Points List after the British Masters victory back in October.

The big movement on the world points list in recent weeks has come from Rafa Cabrera-Bello, as the Spaniard posted back-to-back tied-second finishes earlier in the season and secured an invite to the Masters when he finished in the final four in Austin last week.

Ryder Cup stalwarts Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia currently occupy two of the automatic qualifier spots, with the final guaranteed place currently allocated to Thomas Pieters as things stand.

Also See:

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (L) and Justin Rose of England walk together on the fifth hole during the first round of the
Image: Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose would both be automatic qualifiers for Hazeltine

Current team (as of March 30)

1.Rory McIlroy
2.Danny Willett
3.Andy Sullivan
4.Matt Fitzpatrick
5.Henrik Stenson
6.Justin Rose
7.Rafa Cabrera-Bello
8.Sergio Garcia
9.Thomas Pieters
10.WILDCARD
11.WILDCARD
12.WILDCARD

Team USA

World No 2 Jordan Spieth holds a considerable cushion at the top of the American standings, mainly thanks to five wins during his breakthrough year in 2015 and an early-season victory at this year's Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Jordan Spieth applauds the vast galleries after closing out victory over Justin Thomas
Image: Jordan Spieth is all-but certain to feature for the hosts later this year

Bubba Watson, who has played in the last three American losses, sits second in the points list, with Dustin Johnson lurking close behind despite not having registered a PGA Tour victory since last year's WGC-Cadillac Championship.

The only player in the automatic qualification places not to have appeared at Gleneagles in 2014 is currently Brandt Snedeker, who lies five behind Open Champion Zach Johnson as things stand.

Phil Mickelson, who has already made a record-breaking 10 Ryder Cup appearances, is on course to add another after getting back inside the world's top 20, with Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed currently occupying the two automatic spots.

Phil Mickelson during the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Blue Monster
Image: Will Phil Mickelson make an 11th Ryder Cup appearance later this year?

Current team (as of March 30)

  1. Jordan Spieth
  2. Bubba Watson
  3. Dustin Johnson
  4. Zach Johnson
  5. Brandt Snedeker
  6. Rickie Fowler
  7. Phil Mickelson
  8. Patrick Reed
  9. WILDCARD
  10. WILDCARD
  11. WILDCARD
  12. WILDCARD

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