Thomas No. 1, Mickelson vaults to No. 4 in Ryder Cup standings

[March 06, 2018]  Justin Thomas took over the No. 1 spot in the United States Ryder Cup points standings Monday, with Phil Mickelson leaping seven spots to fourth the day after he beat Thomas in a playoff at the World Golf Championship-Mexico Championship in Mexico City.

Thomas, who has two wins on the PGA Tour this season along with Sunday's second-place finish, took over the top spot from Dustin Johnson. The reigning Tour player of the year also moved past Jon Rahm to No. 2 in the world rankings, just behind Johnson.

Mickelson, who earned his first victory since the 2013 British Open, has repeatedly stated that one of his primary goals for 2018 is to earn one of the eight automatic qualifying spots for the U.S. Ryder Cup team in September. He picked up 1,700 Ryder Cup points with the victory to vault into a very strong position.

Brooks Koepka, who is recovering from a wrist injury, remains third. Behind Mickelson are Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland, who each slid down a spot this week. So, too, did Rickie Fowler, who is now No. 9 and would require a captain's pick to make the team as of now.

Bubba Watson, who was not selected for the U.S. team two years ago despite being ranked No. 7 in the world, remained 10th in the standings, followed by Chez Reavie, Patton Kizzire, 2016 Ryder Cup hero Patrick Reed, Kevin Chappell and James Hahn.

"It's been a tough go the last four years, not playing my best, but to have the belief that I was going to get there and finally break through and do it feels incredible. I believe that more is to come," Mickelson said after Sunday's victory.

Mickelson also climbed 16 spots to No. 18 in the world rankings.

The 42nd Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 28-30 at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, only the second time the event will take place in Continental Europe and the first time in France.

The United States has not won on European soil since 1993 at The Belfry, and is seeking its first consecutive Ryder Cup victories since 1991 and '93.

--Field Level Media

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