OWGR Wk 31 RC Standings for US and Euro

Congratz To Rory for reclaiming the #1 spot. Very well done by the Ulsterman.  Sergio gets to #3, his highest ranking since he broke up with Greg Norman's daughter.

And welcome back to the winners circle for Geoff Ogilvy.  He should get up to around #125 and an invite to the PGA this week

1 Rory McIlroy 9.408
2 Adam Scott 9.237
3 Sergio Garcia 7.780
4 Henrik Stenson 7.669
5 Justin Rose 7.460
6 Matt Kuchar 6.771
7 Bubba Watson 6.668
8 Jim Furyk 6.477
9 Jason Day 6.192
10 Tiger Woods 5.908
11 Jordan Spieth 5.686
12 Martin Kaymer 5.378
13 Phil Mickelson 5.145
14 Zach Johnson 5.016
15 Graeme McDowell 4.905
16 Hideki Matsuyama 4.881
17 Dustin Johnson 4.833
18 Rickie Fowler 4.788
19 Charl Schwartzel 4.171
20 Jimmy Walker 4.155
21 Keegan Bradley 4.146
22 Victor Dubuisson 3.880
23 Steve Stricker 3.879
24 Thomas Bjorn 3.841
25 Patrick Reed 3.763
26 Luke Donald 3.741
27 Jason Dufner 3.725
28 Miguel A Jimenez 3.479
29 Ian Poulter 3.460
30 Webb Simpson 3.404
31 Stephen Gallacher 3.350
32 Jamie Donaldson 3.332
33 Thongchai Jaidee 3.237
34 Lee Westwood 3.197
35 Brandt Snedeker 3.178
36 Kevin Na 3.152
37 Ryan Moore 3.094
38 Bill Haas 3.085
39 Marc Leishman 3.060
40 Graham Delaet 3.042
41 Brendon Todd 2.990
42 Kevin Streelman 2.917
43 Francesco Molinari 2.852
44 Chris Kirk 2.751
45 Hunter Mahan 2.732
46 Jonas Blixt 2.624
47 Joost Luiten 2.594
48 Gary Woodland 2.574
49 Harris English 2.567
50 Matt Every 2.557
51 Matt Jones 2.505
52 Kevin Stadler 2.504
53 Angel Cabrera 2.472
54 Mikko Ilonen 2.430
55 John Senden 2.394
56 Louis Oosthuizen 2.370
57 Billy Horschel 2.334
58 Shane Lowry 2.259
59 Russell Henley 2.244
60 Ernie Els 2.203
61 J.B. Holmes 2.172
62 Koumei Oda 2.170
63 Ryan Palmer 2.158
64 Pablo Larrazabal 2.129
65 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano 2.106
66 Brian Harman 2.045
67 Matteo Manassero 2.031
68 Charley Hoffman 2.021
69 George Coetzee 1.988
70 Bernd Wiesberger 1.962
71 Richard Sterne 1.945
72 K.J. Choi 1.908
73 Rafael Cabrera Bello 1.862
74 Erik Compton 1.834
75 Brooks Koepka 1.819
76 Tim Clark 1.816
77 Ben Martin 1.797
78 Nick Watney 1.791
79 Fredrik Jacobson 1.768
80 Charles Howell-III 1.762
81 Ryo Ishikawa 1.752
82 George McNeill 1.740
83 Brendon de Jonge 1.735
84 Chris Stroud 1.731
85 Paul Casey 1.706
86 Boo Weekley 1.675
87 Anirban Lahiri 1.659
88 Chesson Hadley 1.649
89 Scott Stallings 1.645
90 Chris Wood 1.564
91 Branden Grace 1.559
92 Kim Hyung-sung 1.539
93 Fabrizio Zanotti 1.538
94 David Hearn 1.525
95 Tommy Fleetwood 1.523
96 Ross Fisher 1.511
97 Edoardo Molinari 1.507
98 Thorbjorn Olesen 1.502
99 Danny Willett 1.499
100 Daniel Summerhays 1.497
101 Noh Seung-yul 1.490
102 Russell Knox 1.482
103 Marc Warren 1.477


===================

The Euro RC World Point standings should look like this

1 Rory McIlroy 434
2 Sergio GARCIA 363
3 Henrik STENSON 352
4 Justin ROSE 279
5 Martin KAYMER 247
6 Thomas BJÖRN 200
7 Victor DUBUISSON 190
8 Graeme MCDOWELL 167.0
9 Jamie DONALDSON 165.0
10 Luke DONALD 164.3
11 Stephen GALLACHER 156.5
12 Ian POULTER 149.1
13 Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ 142.9
14 Francesco MOLINARI 136.6
15 Joost LUITEN 124.9
16 Lee WESTWOOD 111.7
17 Pablo LARRAZÁBAL 106
18 Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTAÑO 103
19 Shane LOWRY 93
20 Rafa CABRERA-BELLO 91

=============

I will post the US RC Standings as soon as they update and the Euro Money standings when available

Good stuff GPB,
But I think you only slotted Westwood in at #47 on advice from Shotrock - a drop of 13 places within the Top 50 would be unprecedented.

Leishman in the ascendancy.

kwinigolfer wrote:Good stuff GPB,
But I think you only slotted Westwood in at #47 on advice from Shotrock - a drop of 13 places within the Top 50 would be unprecedented.

Leishman in the ascendancy.

I was just checking to see if you people are paying attention.  

Actually I was checking if Westwood's Malaysia's win was keeping him in the top 50, because otherwise, I don't think he qualified for the B-Stone.

He should be #34 and I will edit.

No major OWGR deadline dates until Nedbank, World Challenge and HSBC tournaments.

US Ryder Cup Standings (w/o Dustin Johnson)

There are 3600 points available for the PGA...any American in the field can qualify if they win next week.  I think 4000 points will easily be in the top 9 so I listed how the players from 7th through 20th have to perform to get to 4000 pts.  (ignoring the many tie scenarios)


1 Bubba Watson 6,893
2 Jim Furyk 5,973
3 Jimmy Walker 5,585
4 Rickie Fowler 5,573
5 Matt Kuchar 5,115
6 Jordan Spieth 4,836

======= Players above have virtually clinch a spot on the team

7 Patrick Reed 3,609 --- 13th
8 Jason Dufner 3,560 --- 12th
9 Zach Johnson 3,533 --- 11th

10 Phil Mickelson 3,350 --- 7th
11 Keegan Bradley 3,325 --- 6th
12 Brendon Todd 3,308 --- 6th
13 Ryan Moore 3,289 --- 6th
14 Chris Kirk 3,288 --- 6th
15 Webb Simpson 3,156 --- 4th
16 Harris English 3,036 --- 3rd
17 Kevin Na 2,961 --- 3rd
18 Matt Every 2,527 --- 2nd
19 Erik Compton 2,459 --- 2nd
20 Kevin Stadler 2,419 --- 2nd

That's not a particularly intimidating team. Is Mullet Watson, he of the hot and cold form really the "best" they have?

No one on the US team are particularly intimidating. May work to their favour!!

I wouldn't say the European team looks amazingly strong, Garcia and McIlroy aside.
Stenson doesn't seem to be in great form.
Rose is playing well.
Kaymer very hot and cold, who knows
Bjorn i wouldn't bank any money on against the world's best
Dubuisson as above and limited experience
MacDowell will prob hold his own but not had a very good year
Donaldson in terrible form!

I'm not sure you can fully base your evaluations of a potential RC player on form alone, and maybe not even form for stroke play at all. Certainly if your form is so awful you can't get it off the tee (see Woods), then you'll struggle in any format. But that aside, match play is really quite different (in particular in the four balls and foresomes) and it requires a different mental approach. Woods when at the height of his powers and form didn't have an appropriately good RC record, so that somewhat backs up this point. But if you do want to use stroke play form as an indicator, all I think you can say is the Europeans in general seem to be trending upward.

It's going to be a strange Ryder Cup. Likely to be no Woods, Westwood, Donald, Poulter, and plenty of other familiar faces not there.

On the other hand, plenty of players that I wouldn't recognise if they were sitting next to me right now. Patrick Reid? Jimmy Walker? Jamie Donaldson? There will be lots of rustling noises on the course as the galleries riffle through the programme to find out who Chris Kirk is...

It's strange how times change. The US teams of the past had so many names to intimidate the UK/Europe. Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson, Wadkins, and many more. Who would be intimidated by this team? Meanwhile the Europeans look strangely understrength. Could be a close affair...

Indeed BOb, around this time of year much is made of how many majors the  Americans have between them, yet they fail to notice how often America lose and how dreadful the Ryder Cup record of those with the most majors have.

Having a team of relative "no marks" might actually make them a better "team".

George, can you really see McGinley not picking Poulter?

Poulter will be given a spot.

Fair point Bob but I don't think you can completely write off form. If you're hitting drives onto fairways and approaches into greens that's good and if you're not that's bad regardless of whether you've adopted a strokeplay or matchplay mindset

The Euro team doesn't look massively scary to me. Luckily the Americans seem to be in a right state

George1507 wrote:It's going to be a strange Ryder Cup. Likely to be no Woods, Westwood, Donald, Poulter, and plenty of other familiar faces not there. 

What an odd thing to say! Poulter will definitely be there (barring injury). I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one of Westwood and Donald there (whether deserved or not) - and it wouldn't be the first time Tiger missed out through injury either

Tiger will probably be there in a mentoring role   

Interested to see who Watson ends up picking, got to think the likes of Na and Moore for me should be considered by Watson. I don't think he will consider them though.

Can see Donaldson getting pushed out and Donald qualifying just. No doubt Poulter will get a pick. Who the other 2 are I have no idea.

incontinentia wrote:Tiger will probably be there in a mentoring role   

I could see how that would work....

"Look guys," <spits> "it could be worse.  You could have been partnered with me.  Now give me some    space!"

Sand wrote:Can see Donaldson getting pushed out and Donald qualifying just. No doubt Poulter will get a pick. Who the other 2 are I have no idea.

If Shane Lowry has a good PGA I can see him getting the nod.

incontinentia wrote:

Sand wrote:Can see Donaldson getting pushed out and Donald qualifying just. No doubt Poulter will get a pick. Who the other 2 are I have no idea.

If Shane Lowry has a good PGA I can see him getting the nod.

What you want and what is reality are completely different. There'll be enough (O)Irish in the team with Pubehead and the fat accountant without the token gesture of adding Lowry anyway.

I would love it if Lowry got a pick, just to hear you moaning about it. What I'm saying is reasonable, if Lowry has a good PGA he will have to be a consideration. Add in McGinley's nationalistic leanings and suddenly it becomes a very good chance.

I actually think Lowry would be a decent pick. In good form and would be a big unknown factor to the US

Official RC points table confirms (not that there was any doubt!) GPB's calculations, so that leaves Donald, Poulter and Westwood on the outside. I'd be hard-pressed to choose Donald or Westwood until/unless they show sustained good form in the next month (in which case Lukey would be in anyway).

Gallacher doesn't get mentioned much in these conversations but he's only one good result away from being right in the mix.
Agree about Lowry but would think he needs to get much closer to qualifying places.

Padraig Harrington wins this week and plays his way into the Ryder Cup, you heard it here first.


No but being honest Shane is one excellent week away from playing his way into the team and he must be considered as a pick imo.

if Valhalla is going to be hot then Lowry has no chance. Fat knackers like him never play well in heat and humidity for 4 rounds.

MustPuttBetter wrote:I actually think Lowry would be a decent pick. In good form and would be a big unknown factor to the US

 

Davie wrote:

George1507 wrote:It's going to be a strange Ryder Cup. Likely to be no Woods, Westwood, Donald, Poulter, and plenty of other familiar faces not there. 

What an odd thing to say! Poulter will definitely be there (barring injury). I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one of Westwood and Donald there (whether deserved or not) - and it wouldn't be the first time Tiger missed out through injury either

Will Poulter be there? OK, I don't pay much attention (as you can see). I hope some of these Europeans can discover some form, they seem to be all over the place at the moment.

Think Donald will pip his son and good for that. He's too much of a unknown factor to have him in the team.

However if the current standings hold I would pick Poulter, Molinari and Donald, with MAJ as VC. If Donald qualifies outright I would lean towards Westwood (if he displays decent form inthe coming weeks)

As someone who is rooting for the USA team, I hope McGinley picks Poulter.  Aside for those 5 holes on Sat afternoon, Poulter did not play well in Chicago two years.  

He just happened to play against people who played worst.  

And he is playing awful this year.  Only Tiger has earned less OWGR points this year in the top 60 of the OWGR.  Even Stricker has earned more.  The only reason why he is still in the top 30 is the static nature of the OWGR rankings.  (its why Woods is still in the Top 10)

Is Doobie going to play before Sunday?  If so, who is going to partner with him.  I just don't see anyone wanting to partner with him.

And for the Yanks, I feel the same way about Patrick Reed, I don't think any American wants to play with him.  And w/o Webb Simpson on the team, I don't see anyone wanting to play with Bubba.  Maybe Fowler, but I think they make an awful pairing for the US team.

GPB, what is the general public's view of Gerry Watson in America. He seems pretty repulsive and thick as a dozen short planks from this side of the Atlantic.

Watson seems ok, he even offered to pray for Tiger after he w/d yesterday, which was a nice touch.

Bubba doesn't need a partner, he has God by his side.

You make some good points. However, on Doobie a few years ago there was an exhibition thingy at Celtic Manor and Doobie seemed to get along famously with GMac - they had a right laugh, so maybe that would work. Their opponents would certainly never be sure they had them beaten until it was all over.

I actually don't mind Bubba to be fair.

incontinentia wrote:Watson seems ok, he even offered to pray for Tiger after he w/d yesterday, which was a nice touch.

What a dick munch

incontinentia wrote:Watson seems ok, he even offered to pray for Tiger after he w/d yesterday, which was a nice touch.

And Dustin Johnson offered to prey for him.

In general, Americans like Bubba because he does have a personality. Unlike players like Webb, and Kirk, and English.

Bubba is not one of my favorites because he whines too much on the golf course and looks to blame his caddie, or the greens.

Bubba would be one of my last choices to play a casual round of golf.

Being asked to hit one drive is enough to induce a bubba tantrum.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2014/8/4/bubba-hissy-fit-o-the-week-no-long-drive-contest-for-me.html

GPB wrote:In general, Americans like Bubba because he does have a personality. Unlike players like Webb, and Kirk, and English.

Bubba is not one of my favorites because he whines too much on the golf course and looks to blame his caddie, or the greens.

Bubba would be one of my last choices to play a casual round of golf.

Surely you only like someone if they have a likeable personality? Can't see anything likeable about the guy at all.

For the SuperRealist Tiger out of the Top 10 watch, Tiger will be losing about 0.155 pts per week for the next few weeks from attrition.

Assuming that he is out for awhile, his average will be down to ~5.28 on September 1.  I think it is about 50/50 someone passes Tiger this week.

super_realist wrote:

GPB wrote:In general, Americans like Bubba because he does have a personality. Unlike players like Webb, and Kirk, and English.

Bubba is not one of my favorites because he whines too much on the golf course and looks to blame his caddie, or the greens.

Bubba would be one of my last choices to play a casual round of golf.

Surely you only like someone if they have a likeable personality?  Can't see anything  likeable about the guy at all.

I don't see anything likable about Tiger Woods, but he has a lot of fans.  I don't see anything likable about Poulter and Westwood, and they have a lot of fans.  But I don't dwell and obsess on their unlikable qualities.

GPB wrote:For the SuperRealist Tiger out of the Top 10 watch, Tiger will be losing about 0.155 pts per week for the next few weeks from attrition.

Assuming that he is out for awhile, his average will be down to ~5.28 on September 1.  I think it is about 50/50 someone passes Tiger this week.

          

OWGR made announcements of changes to rankings.  

OWGR Press Release wrote:1. Additional ranking point categories at the lower end of the current ranking point structure will be introduced to facilitate more scope for changes and new admissions for the minor Tours. In addition it will enable the system to be mathematically correct for co-sanctioned events where the average of the minimums are applied.


2. The European Challenge Tour is introducing a “final series” of events this year and the Board agreed that the minimum ranking points for these events would be increased. Accordingly the minimum ranking points for the Kazakhstan Open, plus the two events immediately preceding the Grand Final, the Foshan Open, and the National Bank of Oman Classic, will be increased by one point from 12 to 13 for the winner. In addition the flagship event on the Challenge Tour, the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final, will also be increased by one point from a minimum 16 ranking points to 17 for the winner.

Not positive of all the implications but I think it will generally help the rankings of Challenge Tour Players and the co-sanctioned tournaments between the Euro and minor tour will be hurt by reduced subsidies.

For instance, I think co-sanctioned tournaments between the Euro and Asia Tour will be subsidized to Level 19, rather than Level 20.

If the stars align for Dufner, he can still make the US Ryder Cup team.  He is in the #8 spot so two people have to pass him, but they don't need much to pass him:

Zach needs to make cut to pass him
Mickelson needs to be inside the top 22  
Bradley 20th or better 
Todd 19th or better 
Moore and Kirk 18th or better 
Simpson 12th or better

Some of those guys not doing their stuff however:
Bradley and Kirk +2 in progress.
Simpson and Snedeker in with +2
Moore +3
English in with +3

Some Europeans also playing poorly, especially Jimenez (+1), McDool (+2) and Bjorn.(+4).

yep, none of the US Bubble Boys played well today.  Mickelson the best at -2 in the huge Logjam at T19.

Palmer needs a two way tie for 2nd to impact the RC Standings and Chappell and Kelly need to win to impact the standings.

Many of the 2nd Tier Euros showed up in the first round today.  I count 6 Euros in the top 11 that have never played a Ryder Cup (does not include DoDo Molinari).

And quite a few 1st Tier Euros as well!

Shocked by guys like Kirk and Na - they had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Both been playing well and had some flukey early bird action - you'd've thought they'd've kicked on from that.
Nice finish by Zach Johnson - but imagine he'd be a "pick" anyway.

Right! Simpson is a goner, out of qualifying contention. Also difficult to see Kirk & Na making it.

Cut made for Zach; that helps him big-time.

Na? Nah.

Ryder Cup picture is becoming clearer after 36 holes.

The last three in for the US team as of 36 holes are Mickelson/Reed/Zach.

Mickelson Moore and Todd are the only the players that made the cut and don't need a podium finish to impact the RC Bubble

Zach has passed Dufner by making the cut.  He just has to finish 72 holes.

Mickelson needs a top 19 finish to pass Dufner.

Palmer needs two way T2 (or better) to have a chance of impacting the RC bubble

Stricker needs a solo 2nd or better.

============

Westwood needs solo 2nd (60 pts) to have any chance of crashing the top Nine.  And a good chance that will not be enough.

Wiesberger and Ilonen needs to win (100 pts).

Luiten needs a two way T2nd (50 pts).

Donaldson did himself the most good of the Europeans don't you think?
Donald and McDowell really scratching around, Poulter and Franny too.

Disappointing two weeks for Gallacher & Jimenez who are becoming longshots now.

kwinigolfer wrote:Donaldson did himself the most good of the Europeans don't you think?
Donald and McDowell really scratching around, Poulter and Franny too.

Disappointing two weeks for Gallacher & Jimenez who are becoming longshots now.

I didn't look at players outside the top 10

T17 with 9 players is worth 6.7 OWGR points.  But compared to what GMac and Donald are doing, yes Donaldson is doing well.

GMAC is dew busting tomorrow in the first group at 8:30 local time.  Smooth Greens.  Could be a good day for him.  But it will play long for him.