Tim Nwachukwu

By Joel Beall
Patrick Cantlay outlasted Bryson DeChambeau in a duel at the BMW Championship. And by beating DeChambeau, Cantlay beat Tony Finau, too.

With an instant-classic win at Caves Valley Sunday Cantlay secured the sixth and final automatic qualifying spot for the United States Ryder Cup team. Had Cantlay finished in second, the bid would have went to Finau.

“There’s so many of us that want to make the team. So many great American players, and I’m one of very few — I think very few guys that have a legit chance to make the team, which is a cool feeling,” Finau said earlier Sunday after a final-round 63 at the BMW. “I’ve done all I could. I feel like last week and then this week to finish the way that I have, hopefully I’ve pleaded my case, and whether I make the team through points today or I don’t, I’m playing some good golf, which is a good time of year to be doing that.”

Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas already earned their spots via automatic qualifying heading into Caves Valley.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker will name the remaining six players via captain’s picks following next week’s season-finale Tour Championship. Finau, along with Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth, are considered locks for three of the six slots, with the likes of Harris English, Daniel Berger, Sam Burns, Patrick Reed, Scottie Scheffler, Webb Simpson and Phil Mickelson among the candidates for the remaining picks.

The leading four players on the European Ryder Cup points list, combined with the leading five players on the European world points list (not otherwise qualified on the above standings) will automatically qualify for the team following the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, scheduled to conclude on Sept. 12. European captain Padraig Harrington will name his three captain’s picks the following day on Monday, Sept. 13.

The 2021 Ryder Cup begins Sept. 24. The Europeans are defending champs.