Last year, Justin Thomas missed out on Davis Love III’s Ryder Cup team, a moment that “really, really, hurt,” according to Thomas.
The then-23-year-old was inconsistent as the biennial tournament approached.
“I had a great opportunity,” Thomas said last year, according to GolfChannel.com. “I should have if I would have played like I know I could have or how I felt like I should have.”
On the second weekend of August, 2017, Thomas had a great opportunity again, and this time he capitalized, winning his first major tournament at the 99th PGA Championship.
Now, in the latest Ryder Cup standings, Thomas has skyrocketed up the leaderboard, from No. 7 with 582.942 points in June to No. 2, just 500 points back from Brooks Koepka at No. 1.
Jordan Spieth also entered the top 12 after his win at The Open, and now sits at No. 3 on the list.
The points process for the American team will conclude on August 12, 2018, following the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, with the top eight players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.
Here is the current top 12 (and ties):
1. Brooks Koepka, 3,064.825
2. Justin Thomas, 2,509.723
3. Jordan Spieth, 2,365.412
4. Matt Kuchar, 2,097.466
5. Dustin Johnson, 1,999.906
6. Rickie Fowler, 1,286.937
7. Brian Harman, 1,247.852
8. Patrick Reed, 1,118.286
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9. Bill Haas, 904.397
10. Charley Hoffman, 890.709
11. Zach Johnson, 877.254
12. Kevin Chappell, 651.087
The four remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain's Selections. Three selections will be announced by Captain Furyk following the Dell Technologies Championship scheduled to be completed on September 3, 2018, and the final selection will be announced after the BMW Championship, which is slated to be completed on September 9, 2018.
Here's a look at the point-getting events and how the 12-player team will be picked:
2017 Major Championships:
- 1 Point per $1,000 earned (The Masters; U.S. Open; Open Championship; PGA Championship)
2017 WGC Events and The Players Championship:
- 1 point per $2,000 earned (WGC-Mexico Championship; WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship; The Players Championship; WGC-Bridgestone Invitational; WGC-HSBC Champions)
2018 Regular PGA Tour events:
- 1 point per $1,000 earned (Beginning January 1, 2018, through the PGA Championship, August 12, 2018; includes the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event and WGC events)
2018 Opposite Field PGA TOUR events will NOT receive points
2018 Major Championships:
- 2 Points per $1,000 earned for the Winner; 1.5 Points per $1,000 earned for all others to make the cut (The Masters; U.S. Open; Open Championship; PGA Championship)
