Fresh off their drubbing just a few months ago, the PGA of America has revised its points system to award more points to players with top-10 performances in Ryder Cup years, major championships, and tournament victories. The change goes into effect January 6-9, 2005 at the Mercedes Championship. Points accumulated thus far will remain intact.
“The PGA of America’s goal is to ensure the strongest possible team for the next edition of the Ryder Cup Matches at the K Club in Ireland,” said Roger Warren, PGA of America President. “The new system rewards the game’s hottest players as well as many players who have won events in the year of the Matches.”
Under the new system, regular-season victories in 2005 will continue to be worth 75 points, majors will earn 450 (up from 225), and top-10 finishes will see an increase as well. In Ryder Cup years, a regular-season win counts for 375 points, up from 150. Finishes in the top 10 will see their points values doubled. Majors will be worth 675, up from 300, and top-10 finishes in majors will be increased as well.
Qualification continues through the 88th PGA Championship, Aug. 14-20, 2006 at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. The 2006 Ryder Cup Matches will be conducted Sept. 22-24, 2006, at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland.
The last major revision to the points system was in 1993, when more points were awarded to major championship victors.
Team USA Ryder Cup Point System Breakdown
Finish 04-05 Event 2005 Major 2006 Event 2006 Major 1ST 75 450 375 675 2ND 45 225 180 360 3RD 40 200 160 320 4TH 35 175 140 280 5TH 30 150 120 240 6TH 25 125 100 200 7TH 20 100 80 160 8TH 15 75 60 120 9TH 10 50 40 80 10TH 5 25 20 40
Wow! The PGA of the USA was actually listening. Of course it took the US getting their ears boxed to do it but I’m impressed that they actually changed things to reward a hot player.
This may be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. A major win in a Ryder Cup year would get you about 80% of the minimum points required to automatically qualify. Todd Hamilton, even with another victory was not regarded highly enough to be a captain’s pick and other iffy winners recently include Ben Curtis and Rich Beem – neither of whom would give the Europeans much to worry about.
Any North won the 1985 US Open and went 0-3-0 in the Ryder Cup later that season
Those are very good points indeed, Gary. The Euros always seem to have a certain je ne sais quoi about them.