In a week where many of the top players didn't play to prepare for the PGA Championship this upcoming week at Baltusrol, Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar took advantage.
Placing T5 and T9 respectively at the RBC Canadian Open, both Snedeker and Kuchar moved onto the current roster for the United States Ryder Cup team in a tight race after the top two. Dustin Johnson's T2 finish keeps him on top of the standings, though he has enough points to have almost certainly clinched a spot on the team. There was no other significant movement in the top 50.
However, with majors counting double towards points, this upcoming week is going to be pivotal in deciding who will be on the roster when September rolls around. Less than a thousand points separate J.B. Holmes in fifth place and Bill Haas in 13th, so there could potentially be a lot of movement in next week's rankings.
Even players in the 20's such as Gary Woodland or Justin Thomas could vault into contention with a strong finish this week. In addition to points, Davis Love III will surely be looking around for potential captain's pick options.
Since the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn., will be played in an Olympic year (with golf included in the Games for the first time since 1904), there have been some adjustments made to the qualifying calendar for Ryder Cup USA.
Here are the key qualifying dates:
- Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016: The top eight will be finalized at the conclusion of The Barclays, which is scheduled to finish on this date, as opposed to the traditional closing of points at the conclusion of the PGA Championship, which will be played in July instead of August in 2016 due to the Olympics. It also affords players an additional two weeks from past years to earn a spot on points.
- Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016: Love will select three of his four Captain's Picks at the conclusion of the BMW Championship, scheduled to end on this day.
- Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016: Love will make his fourth and final Captain's Pick at the conclusion of the Tour Championship, scheduled to end on this day.
