T.J.'s Team USA Weekly Analysis: July 7-13

The 38th Ryder Cup will be held Oct. 1-3, 2010, at The Celtic Manor Resort in City of Newport, Wales. Each week leading up to the matches, PGA.com Interactive Producer T.J. Auclair will provide analysis of the top 20 U.S. players in the latest standings. Go to the bottom of the page to learn how the U.S. Ryder Cup team is determined.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Phil Mickelson	5,726.48700	1	1

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Steve Stricker	3,364.58300	2	8

T.J.'s Take: We've got a new No. 2. Jumping six spots in this week's U.S. standings is Steve Stricker thanks to his second victory of the season and his second in as many years at the John Deere Classic. With the Greater Milwaukee Open no longer being played - and even when it was in recent years it was opposite the British Open - the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., is as close to a home game as Wisconsin native Stricker gets. To win once at "home" is remarkable. To win twice must have him over the moon. At 26-under par for the week, Stricker was six shots better in his 2010 victory than he was in 2009. That's almost unheard of. Also unheard of was the fact that Ryder Cup assistant captain Paul Goydos fired what was just the fourth 59 in PGA Tour history during last Thursday's opening round. That was only good enough for a one-shot lead over Stricker, who countered with a 60 later in the day. Great win for Stricks. Here's to hoping he snags that elusive major in the near future, if not this week. It's the only thing missing from his rejuvenated career.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Jim Furyk	3,280.08500	3	2

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Anthony Kim	3,062.34500	4	3

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Lucas Glover	2,938.61200	5	4

T.J.'s Take: Glover headed over seas for the Scottish Open and missed the cut with rounds of 73-73. He dropped one spot in the latest standings.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Dustin Johnson	2,760.45800	6	5

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Tiger Woods	2,644.28200	7	6

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Matt Kuchar	2,629.21000	8	7

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ricky Barnes	2,526.69300	9	9

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Hunter Mahan	2,509.43300	10	10

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ben Crane	2,486.46900	11	11

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Jeff Overton	2,378.96900	12	12

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Stewart Cink	2,351.77100	13	13

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Bubba Watson	2,202.31900	14	14

T.J.'s Take: With rounds of 67-72, Watson missed the cut on the number (3 under). He's probably still riding high after his maiden Tour win at the Travelers Championship.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Bo Van Pelt	2,103.72600	15	15

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Zach Johnson	2,086.29500	16	17

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Rickie Fowler	2,083.69100	17	16

T.J.'s Take: Fowler shot matching rounds of 70 to miss the cut for the second straight week. He did, however, receive good news at the start of the week when he earned a spot in the field at the British Open because of his world ranking number. He dropped one spot in this week's standings.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ryan Moore	2,017.19500	18	18

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
J.B. Holmes	1,953.33100	19	19

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Nick Watney	1,925.49600	20	20

Team USA Qualifying Process

The United States points system will determine the top eight players for the 2010 United States Ryder Cup Team on August 15. In addition, Captain Corey Pavin selects four players on Sept. 7, 2010, to complete the United States Team. Points are based upon the following:

Click for complete Team USA Standings

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Phil Mickelson	5,726.48700	1	1

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Steve Stricker	3,364.58300	2	8

T.J.'s Take: We've got a new No. 2. Jumping six spots in this week's U.S. standings is Steve Stricker thanks to his second victory of the season and his second in as many years at the John Deere Classic. With the Greater Milwaukee Open no longer being played - and even when it was in recent years it was opposite the British Open - the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., is as close to a home game as Wisconsin native Stricker gets. To win once at "home" is remarkable. To win twice must have him over the moon. At 26-under par for the week, Stricker was six shots better in his 2010 victory than he was in 2009. That's almost unheard of. Also unheard of was the fact that Ryder Cup assistant captain Paul Goydos fired what was just the fourth 59 in PGA Tour history during last Thursday's opening round. That was only good enough for a one-shot lead over Stricker, who countered with a 60 later in the day. Great win for Stricks. Here's to hoping he snags that elusive major in the near future, if not this week. It's the only thing missing from his rejuvenated career.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Jim Furyk	3,280.08500	3	2

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Anthony Kim	3,062.34500	3	3

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Lucas Glover	2,938.61200	5	4

T.J.'s Take: Glover headed overseas for the Scottish Open and missed the cut with rounds of 73-73. He dropped one spot in the latest standings.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Dustin Johnson	2,760.45800	6	5

T.J.'s Take: Did not play and dropped one spot.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Tiger Woods	2,644.28200	7	6

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Matt Kuchar	2,629.21000	8	7

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ricky Barnes	2,526.69300	9	9

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Hunter Mahan	2,509.43300	10	10

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ben Crane	2,486.46900	11	11

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Jeff Overton	2,378.96900	12	12

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Stewart Cink	2,351.77100	13	13

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Bubba Watson	2,202.31900	14	14

T.J.'s Take: With rounds of 67-72, Watson missed the cut on the number (3 under). He's probably still riding high after his maiden Tour win at the Travelers Championship.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Bo Van Pelt	2,103.72600	15	15

T.J.'s Take: Did not play.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Zach Johnson	2,086.29500	16	17

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Rickie Fowler	2,083.69100	17	16

T.J.'s Take: Fowler shot matching rounds of 70 to miss the cut for the second straight week. He did, however, receive good news at the start of the week when he earned a spot in the field at the British Open because of his world ranking number. He dropped one spot in this week's standings.

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Ryan Moore	2,017.19500	18	18

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
J.B. Holmes	1,953.33100	19	19

Player	Points	This Week	Last Week
Nick Watney	1,925.49600	20	20

Team USA Qualifying Process

The United States points system will determine the top eight players for the 2010 United States Ryder Cup Team on August 15. In addition, Captain Corey Pavin selects four players on Sept. 7, 2010, to complete the United States Team. Points are based upon the following:

-- Prize money earned in the 2009 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 2010 "Official" events from Jan. 1 through Aug. 15: 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 2010 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 2010 events played opposite t