Johnson positioning himself to make first Ryder Cup team

As disappointing as Dustin Johnson’s tie for eighth was in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after he took a three-shot lead into the final round, the finish still helped him considerably in his bid to make the U.S. Ryder Cup Team.
Johnson moved up to the No. 4 spot in the standings with the finish, and is currently sixth after dropping a spot in an off week. He was bumped down by Steve Stricker, who advanced from eighth to second with his John Deere victory last week. The Ryder Cup will be held Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Johnson has a chance to solidify his spot on his first U.S. team with a strong finish this week at St. Andrews because points are double in this year’s major championships. Johnson missed the cut at Turnberry last year with rounds of 78 and 76 in his only British Open appearance, though he was playing in his first event since withdrawing from the Travelers Championship three weeks before because of a sprained left wrist .

Eight U.S. Team members will be determined by points following the PGA Championship, Aug. 15 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. That is five tournaments after this week’s British Open. U.S. Team Captain Corey Pavin will make his four remaining selections on Sept. 7.
Points are based primarily upon the following:
Prize money earned in the 2009 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship): One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
Prize money earned in 2010 "Official" events from Jan. 1 through Aug.15: One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite World Golf Championships; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
Prize money earned for the 2010 major championships: (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and the PGA Championship). Two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.
Prize money earned in 2010 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between Jan. 1 and the PGA Championship, Aug. 16 - one-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim and Lucas Glover are ahead of Johnson. Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar are just behind him in seventh and eighth, and Ricky Barnes and Hunter Mahan are also in the top 10 and vying for spots on the team.