The 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Paris is quickly approaching.
With roughly three months left for American-born players to collect points, there's still a lot of time for hopefuls to automatically qualify for Ryder Cup USA.
But one thing is for sure when looking at the current standings -- Captain Jim Furyk nailed the point-getting formula he established for 2018. The biggest names and those players who are playing the best are the ones occupying the top spots in the standings.
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We'll frequently be taking a look at the top 10 in the Ryder Cup USA standings and analyzing there current form.
Here's a look at how the top 10 is performing through the Wells Fargo Championship.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 1
Last week's rank: 1
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Won the Masters
Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2014, 2016)
Notes: Captain America is now a Masters champion and a lock to make the 2018 Ryder Cup USA team that he likely would have been a part of regardless of rank, given his history in the matches. Reed already had confidence in spades... add to that the title of "major champion" and the confidence has to be at an all-time high. Remember years ago when people scoffed at Reed's assertion that he considered himself to be a top-5 player in the world? Though he's not there quite yet, it feels like it's just a matter of time.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 2
Last week's rank: 2
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Won THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, The Honda Classic
Ryder Cup appearances: 0
Notes: With all he's accomplished in his short career -- eight PGA Tour wins, a major, Player of the Year, FedExCup Champion, closing in on world No. 1 -- it's almost hard to believe that Thomas has yet to play in the Ryder Cup. In 2018, he'll get his first crack at it and, oh boy, is it going to be fun to watch. In 12 events this season, Thomas has finished in the top 25 in 11 of them, including five top 10s. He owns the top spot in the FedExCup standings and he's developed into one of those special players who we expect to contend each and every time he tees it up. Since his win in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in August last year, it's now all about collecting majors for Thomas.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 3
Last week's rank: 3
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Won Sentry Tournament of Champions
Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2010, 2012, 2016)
Notes: Johnson hasn't missed a cut this season. Five of his eight starts have resulted in top-10 finishes, including the win in Maui and two runner-up finishes. He's had a lock on the No. 1 spot in the OWGR for quite some time now, but may soon be relinquishing it to Justin Thomas. Fear not, however. Johnson has one of the most complete games in all of golf. He'll be battling for that No. 1 spot for years and years to come. He's also going to be a Ryder Cup stalwart. It's funny -- we haven't seen Johnson's name at the top of leaderboards lately, but it isn't because he hasn't played well; he just hasn't played much. He tied for 10th in the Masters and tied for 16th at the RBC Heritage in his last two starts. He's teeing it up this week in the Players.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 4
Last week's rank: 4
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Third at the Masters
Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2014, 2016)
Notes: Spieth makes up one-half of a Ryder Cup USA all-star team with Reed. They've proven in two Ryder Cups that they're a force, the likes of which we've typically seen on the European side (think Seve Ballesteros-Jose Maria Olazabal). At 24 years old, he's just a PGA Championship shy of a career grand slam. It's amazing what he's done, really, with 11 career Tour wins already. So far in 2018, Spieth hasn't been in top form and it's mainly been because of the putter -- his biggest strength in previous years. He showed flashes of brilliance with the wand at the Masters, so perhaps it's turning around. Spieth had a T4 in 2014 at the Players Championship, where he's playing this week. Believe it or not, that's also the only time in his career that the Texan has made the cut in the Players.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 5
Last week's rank: 5
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Won the Genesis Open, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship
Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2010, 2012, 2014)
Notes: Watson famously missed out on a captain's pick in 2016 at Hazeltine despite being the No. 7-ranked player in the world at the time. Rather than wallow, Watson stepped up and convinced then-Captain Davis Love III let me join the team as an 11th hour vice captain. In that role, Watson received rave reviews from team members. In 2018, it looks like he'll be a part of Ryder Cup USA once again, but only as a player (again) this time around. Along with his two victories this year, Watson also tied for fifth at the Masters. He's in great form -- only one missed cut this season -- and that win in the Match Play certainly didn't hurt.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 6
Last week's rank: 6
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Second at the OHL Classic, the Masters
Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2010, 2014, 2016)
Notes: Pretty crazy when you think about it, but at age 29, Fowler looks poised to make the Ryder Cup for the fourth time in his career. Fowler's solo second at the Masters was his best ever finish in a major (he also tied for second at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, previously). To hear veterans like Captain Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson talk about Fowler's presence in the team room is pretty special. For so many years now, he's commanded the respect of everyone at such a young age. Fowler is in a great spot to make the team on points, but even if he didn't, he has that aura of "a guy you want in the team room."
Current Ryder Cup rank: 7
Last week's rank: 8
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Won WGC-Mexico Championship
Ryder Cup appearances: 11 (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Notes: Mickelson's individual career has been amazing. But his Ryder Cup streak is a historic one. Lefty has played on 11 consecutive Ryder Cup USA teams -- a record. He's vying for a 12th. More incredible than that is the fact that the five-time major winner has never once had to rely on a Captain's Pick -- he's made every one of those previous 11 teams on points. He is the captain of the U.S. squad in everything but official title. Mickelson is a huge reason for the recent change in the whole approach to the Ryder Cup on the U.S. side. Earlier this year, at 47 years old, Mickelson won the WGC-Mexico Championship in a playoff over Justin Thomas. It was the 43rd win of his career, but his first since the 2013 Open Championship. His longevity has been incredible and he's having a great season. His veteran Ryder Cup leadership is unmatched.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 7
Last week's rank: 8
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: T2 WGC-HSBC Champions
Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Notes: While solid, Koepka's current rank is a little deceiving. He made his first start since the beginning of January at the end of April after missing a lot of time due to injury. He missed the cut in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (a team event) in his first start back and then made the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing in a tie for 42nd. After a layoff like the one he had, it's understandable that Koepka might need a little time to get back in the competitive mode. Barring any further injury, expect him to be back on the top of leaderboards soon. He was certainly a bright spot for the U.S. as a Ryder Cup rookie in 2016.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 9
Last week's rank: 9
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: T8 Houston Open
Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Notes: Kuchar is on the outside looking in at the moment when it comes to being an automatic qualifier. But, since Kuchar doesn't worry about much, he's certainly not worrying about this right now. For years and years and years, Kuchar has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. That hasn't changed in 2018, where he's a perfect 13-for-13 in cuts made. Kuchar isn't the kind of player who's going to be on page one of the leaderboard week in and week out, but he's always a reliable, steady performer. He typically heats up right around this time of year, so don't be surprised if the 2012 Players Champion starts making noise again soon.
Current Ryder Cup rank: 10
Last week's rank: 10
Best PGA Tour finish in 2018: Third at the Sentry Tournament of Champions
Ryder Cup appearances: 0
Notes: If Harman makes this Ryder Cup USA team, along with Mickelson and Watson, that would be three lefties on the same team in one Ryder Cup. We'll have to look back, but that's got to be a record. You've got to wonder how much of an advantage that could prove to be for the USA when it comes to shot shaping for foursomes pairings. In all but one group for each of the two foursomes sessions, you could have a righty and a lefty paired together. Harman also brings a ton of grit to the table, something you can't get enough of in a Ryder Cup. He's cooled off a bit as of late, but he has made 13 of 14 cuts this season.
