GOLF
Unknown journeyman Jimmy Walker continues his fairytale rise as he leads USA Ryder Cup rankings
The outsider had not won a PGA Tour event in 187 attempts when he teed
up in the first Ryder Cup qualifying event back in Octoberbut has now
won three times
Jimmy Walker has stretched his shock lead at the top of the US Ryder Cup rankings
with his third win of the season.
And the current European team is looking just as unfamiliar with stalwarts like Lee Westwood and Luke Donald struggling to make Gleneagles.
Journeyman Walker had not won a PGA Tour event in 187 attempts when he teed up in the first Ryder Cup qualifying event back in October.
The 35-year-old won the Frys.com Open, claimed the Sony Open last month and completed a hat-trick with his one-shot victory at the AT&T Pro-Am in California.
The Texan has become an overnight star and now leads the US rankings by over $1million. “It’s really cool,” said the new world No.24. “It’s going to be a dream come true to do something like the Ryder Cup.
“I’ve always felt like I could win out here. You have to believe you belong and that you can win. And finally it happened.”
Since 1995, only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and David Duval have won so often so early in a season.
Walker was working with Butch Harmon but then the swing guru stopped returning his calls so his wife Erin texted him. “I said ‘If you don’t want to work for Jimmy, just say so.’ He got back to me five minutes later and said: ‘Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
Westwood, 40, has played the last eight Ryder Cups but has slipped to world No.33.
Like his fellow former No.1 Donald, he will need to perform in the Majors and the WGC events this year to climb up the rankings.
Thomas Bjorn and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson are close to booking their places.
Rory McIlroy will look to emulate Phil Mickelson by winning the Scottish Open the week before the Open in July.
“Last year Phil made me realise the Scottish Open is more than good preparation for The Open,” said McIlroy.
Europe List (winnings in Euros)
1 Thomas Bjorn ............1.6M
2 Victor Dubuisson........1.6M
3 Ian Poulter..................1.5M
4 Henrik Stenson ..........1.5M
World List
5 Sergio Garcia..............158.14pts
6 Rory McIlroy ...............101.32
7 Jamie Donaldson.........88.81
8 Joost Luiten ................80.06
9 Stephen Gallacher.......79.44
Outside : Luke Donald 70.81, Graeme McDowell 53.80, Martin Kaymer 38.34, Paul Casey 29.02, Lee Westwood 25.98, Padraig Harrington 13.94
USA Team
Top nine prize money winners on US PGA Tour qualify automatically, plus three wildcards.
1 Jimmy Walker, 2 Dustin Johnson, 3 Phil Mickelson, 4 Jason Dufner, 5 Zach Johnson, 6 Harris English, 7 Ryan Moore, 8 Webb Simpson, 9 Chris Kirk
Outside : 19 Bubba Watson, 29 Tiger Woods, 30 Keegan Bradley
And the current European team is looking just as unfamiliar with stalwarts like Lee Westwood and Luke Donald struggling to make Gleneagles.
Journeyman Walker had not won a PGA Tour event in 187 attempts when he teed up in the first Ryder Cup qualifying event back in October.
The 35-year-old won the Frys.com Open, claimed the Sony Open last month and completed a hat-trick with his one-shot victory at the AT&T Pro-Am in California.
The Texan has become an overnight star and now leads the US rankings by over $1million. “It’s really cool,” said the new world No.24. “It’s going to be a dream come true to do something like the Ryder Cup.
“I’ve always felt like I could win out here. You have to believe you belong and that you can win. And finally it happened.”
Since 1995, only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and David Duval have won so often so early in a season.
Walker was working with Butch Harmon but then the swing guru stopped returning his calls so his wife Erin texted him. “I said ‘If you don’t want to work for Jimmy, just say so.’ He got back to me five minutes later and said: ‘Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
Westwood, 40, has played the last eight Ryder Cups but has slipped to world No.33.
Like his fellow former No.1 Donald, he will need to perform in the Majors and the WGC events this year to climb up the rankings.
Thomas Bjorn and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson are close to booking their places.
Rory McIlroy will look to emulate Phil Mickelson by winning the Scottish Open the week before the Open in July.
“Last year Phil made me realise the Scottish Open is more than good preparation for The Open,” said McIlroy.
Ryder Cup Standings
Top four players on the European points list and the top five on the world points list make the team. Three wildcard picks announced in SeptemberEurope List (winnings in Euros)
1 Thomas Bjorn ............1.6M
2 Victor Dubuisson........1.6M
3 Ian Poulter..................1.5M
4 Henrik Stenson ..........1.5M
World List
5 Sergio Garcia..............158.14pts
6 Rory McIlroy ...............101.32
7 Jamie Donaldson.........88.81
8 Joost Luiten ................80.06
9 Stephen Gallacher.......79.44
Outside : Luke Donald 70.81, Graeme McDowell 53.80, Martin Kaymer 38.34, Paul Casey 29.02, Lee Westwood 25.98, Padraig Harrington 13.94
USA Team
Top nine prize money winners on US PGA Tour qualify automatically, plus three wildcards.
1 Jimmy Walker, 2 Dustin Johnson, 3 Phil Mickelson, 4 Jason Dufner, 5 Zach Johnson, 6 Harris English, 7 Ryan Moore, 8 Webb Simpson, 9 Chris Kirk
Outside : 19 Bubba Watson, 29 Tiger Woods, 30 Keegan Bradley
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