|
|
|
|
Printable Page
09/09 11:59 CDT Ryder Cup points for Americans only available in 2027 under new
qualifying criteria
Ryder Cup points for Americans only available in 2027 under new qualifying
criteria
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
The U.S. team is changing qualifying criteria for the Ryder Cup for the third
straight time, announcing Wednesday a system based entirely on points that can
only be earned during the year leading up to the 2027 matches in Ireland.
Qualifying will start at The American Express, the season opener in California,
and end with the second postseason event at the BMW Championship at Liberty
National in New Jersey.
The top six players in points automatically qualify for the team, and Jim Furyk
will make six captain's picks after the season-ending Tour Championship.
"I have worked diligently with our team and am pleased to implement a new
qualifying process for the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team," Furyk said in a release.
"We possess an exceptional mix of veterans and rising stars, and this system
will help us identify the strongest players in September 2027."
Different about this system is that it no longer bases points on PGA Tour
official money.
That was on Furyk's mind at the PGA Championship in May when he talked about
not only the sharp increases in money but the contrast between signature events
and everything else.
"Everything is working off money. The purses are so out of whack," Furyk said
in May. "The role of (money) in golf and the tour has changed so much the
landscape in the last five years, and so we really need to take a look at kind
of a fair assessment of how to identify some simulations."
Now there is a points distribution list that awards 3,000 points to the winners
of majors, 2,850 points to the winner of The Players Championship, 2,250 points
to the winners of signature events and the two postseason tournaments, and
1,500 for regular PGA Tour events.
Signature events with their strong fields still offer an advantage. For
example, 10th place at a signature event is worth 342 points, compared with 228
points for 10th place at a regular event.
The other significant change is the start. Americans previously could earn
points from the majors and The Players Championship the season prior to a Ryder
Cup year. Those points were equal to a regular PGA Tour event in a Ryder Cup
year.
Players cannot earn points from opposite-field events.
The Ryder Cup is Sept. 17-19, 2027, at Adare Manor in Ireland. Europe has won
the last two times, and Luke Donald will try to become the first captain to win
three in a row.
Europe's qualifying is largely unchanged and players began earning points two
weeks ago at the British Masters. Donald also has six captain's picks.
Money first was introduced to U.S. qualifying by Paul Azinger for the 2008
matches, a key change because previously points only were awarded to the top 10
on a PGA Tour that was attracting international players. But that was long
before the arrival of LIV Golf, which led to a sudden spike in prize money and
elite events for the top players that had $20 million purses.
In the new system, players who make the cut will get points. For the team event
at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, points will be awarded only to teams that
have two eligible Americans.
___
See AP's full golf coverage here
|
| Copyright DTN. All rights reserved. Disclaimer. |
|
