Tiger Woods nearly automatically qualified for the American Ryder Cup team with his runner-up finish at the PGA Championship but his performance at Bellerive Country Club may have been what locked up his spot as a captain's pick.

Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk announced Tiger, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau as the first three captain's selections on Tuesday. Tiger told the media that Furyk and the team's vice captains had hinted after the PGA Championship that he would be one of the captain's picks.

Tiger will compete in his eighth Ryder Cup and his first since 2012.

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Here's what Furyk told the media about Tiger's chances of making the team after the PGA Championship.

"What is important is how well Tiger has played," he said. "Sixth place at The Open Championship, a second place at the PGA. His game – I think the word he used is 'trending.' His game is trending. So it's great to see him playing well."

Tiger's rapid rise this year in the Official World Golf ranking shows how far he's come. He's now ranked 26th in the OWGR.

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