Runners and Ryders: Thomas seals Paris spot ahead of crucial US PGA

Four automatic qualification spots on the US Ryder Cup team are up for grabs US PGA Championship after Justin Thomas sealed his place.

Justin Thomas has moved above Justin Rose to second in the world rankings.

Justin Thomas sealed a Ryder Cup spot by winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while Kyle Stanley and Thorbjorn Olesen enhanced their chances of playing at Le Golf National in September.

Thomas became the fourth American to secure his place on Jim Furyk's team with a four-shot victory at Firestone Country Club on Sunday.

A maiden World Golf Championship title moved Thomas back above Justin Rose to second in the world rankings and ensured he will join Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed on the United States team in Paris.

The other four automatic spots in the USA line-up will be decided at the US PGA Championship this week, with Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson poised to qualify as it stands.

A runner-up finish for Stanley in Akron, Ohio saw him jump four places to 14th in the USA standings, while Tiger Woods missed out on valuable points following back-to-back rounds of 73 over the weekend.

Olesen is just outside the automatic qualifying places for the European team after finishing tied for third at the Bridgestone Invitational.

The Dane finished with a sublime six-under 64 to go fifth on the European Points List and ninth on the World Points List.

Olesen is among the Ryder Cup hopefuls who will go in search of potentially crucial points when the 100th US PGA gets under way at Bellerive Country Club on Thursday.

.@JustinThomas34 clinches spot on 2018 Ryder Cup team: https://t.co/2AqRG9XziMpic.twitter.com/PPTo5kC97j

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) August 6, 2018

 

European points list (top four earn places)

1. FRANCESCO MOLINARI: 5,748,813.79
2. JUSTIN ROSE: 4,372,092.40
3. TYRRELL HATTON: 3,986,883.27
4. TOMMY FLEETWOOD: 3,605,568.97

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5. Thorbjorn Olesen: 3,468,247.09
6. Rory McIlroy: 3,450,618.25
7. Alex Noren: 3,440,426.01
8. Jon Rahm: 2,983,922.29

 

World points list (top four not already qualified via European points list earn places)

1. Justin Rose: 357.50
2. Francesco Molinari: 347.25 
3. RORY MCILROY: 305.92
4. Tommy Fleetwood: 296.11
5. JON RAHM: 286.68
6. ALEX NOREN: 252.62
7. Tyrrell Hatton: 225.39
8. PAUL CASEY: 167.05

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9. Thorbjorn Olesen 163.51
10. Ian Poulter: 161.82
11. Matt Fitzpatrick: 151.04
12. Sergio Garcia: 144.45

United States points list (top eight earn places)

1. DUSTIN JOHNSON: 9,435.287
2. BROOKS KOEPKA: 9,338.472
3. JUSTIN THOMAS: 8,427.053
4. PATRICK REED: 7,821.880
5. BUBBA WATSON: 5,584.137
6. JORDAN SPIETH: 5,199.806
7. RICKIE FOWLER: 4,724.491
8. WEBB SIMPSON: 4,365.058

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9. Bryson DeChambeau: 4,316.108
10. Phil Mickelson: 4,207.953
11. Xander Schauffele: 3,851.453