Here’s What Top U.S. Ryder Cup Contenders Must Do Sunday at BMW to Clinch Automatic Spot

The BMW Championship is the last chance for players to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup, and the race for spots is close.

Six Americans will automatically qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team after this week’s BMW Championship. But considering how close several players stand in the the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, the qualifying spots could all come down to Sunday’s round in Chicago. 

The first six players of the 12-man squad will be determined after the conclusion of this week’s playoff event, while the remaining six spots will be chosen by Zach Johnson, this year’s U.S. team captain. 

As of the start of the BMW Championship, the following six players would automatically qualify for the U.S. team that will head to Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome come the end of September: 

1. Scottie Scheffler

2. Wyndham Clark

3. Patrick Cantlay

4. Brian Harman

5. Brooks Koepka

6. Max Homa

Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay are already locked in to the top three spots. But there are multiple scenarios for the final three automatic qualifiers. 

And those possibilities are made slightly more complicated by one player in particular: Brooks Koepka. 

Koepka, a member of LIV Golf, earned all of his Ryder Cup points during this season’s major championships, especially at the 2023 PGA Championship, which he won. 

But since Koepka is not eligible for PGA Tour events, he is not in the field at the BMW, and cannot earn any more Ryder Cup points. The rest of the players in contention to make the top six, however, are very much in the position to build on their points this week, which means Koepka’s automatic spot could be in jeopardy. 

The top 12 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings as of the start of the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields.  / Rydercup.com

One of the players who could shake things up for Koepka is Xander Schauffele, who currently sits at No. 7 in the standings and is heating up at this week’s PGA Tour playoff event. 

Schauffele shot 67 on Saturday, and is currently T7, four shots behind Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick, who are tied for the lead at 11 under. If Schauffele places in solo 9th place or better after Sunday, he will pass Koepka in the rankings. 

Max Homa, who currently stands at No. 6, is also on a run at the BMW. Homa shot an Olympia Fields course record 62 on Friday, and sits in solo 4th at 9 under. If Homa finishes in solo 10th place or better, he will also pass Koepka in the rankings. 

Both results—which are highly likely—would bump Koepka from the automatic qualifying list. 

The LIV golfer and five-time major champion would then need a captain’s pick from Johnson to make the team. 

Sam Burns, who stands at No. 12 in the Ryder Cup rankings, is also in position to make a move. Burns tied Homa’s course record on Saturday and moved into a tie for seventh place. If Burns goes low again in Chicago and wins the event, he’ll pass Koepka in Ryder Cup points as well. 

Brian Harman, the 2023 British Open champion, is all but guaranteed an automatic qualifying spot, as he currently sits in solo third place at the BMW. Harman can lock up his spot with a finish of solo 20th or better. 

The following results will guarantee these six players a spot on the team, according to PGATour.com:

Brian Harman (currently 3rd): Solo-20th

Max Homa (currently 4th): Runner-up finish (any ties)

Xander Schauffele (currently T7): Solo-2nd

Jordan Spieth (currently T30): Solo-2nd

Cameron Young (currently T15): Win

Collin Morikawa (currently T26): Win

Keegan Bradley (currently T30): Win

Additionally, Koepka will be officially bumped from the automatic qualifiers if two of the following scenarios unfold on Sunday:

Max Homa: Two-way 9th

Xander Schauffele: Solo-9th

Jordan Spieth: Solo-3rd

Cameron Young: Two-way T2

Collin Morikawa: Solo-2nd

Keegan Bradley: Solo-2nd

Sam Burns (currently T7): Win

Denny McCarthy (currently T7): Win

Lucas Glover (currently T15): Win

The Ryder Cup will take place Sep. 29-Oct. 1, when the U.S. squad will attempt to end a 30-year drought overseas against the European team.