World number one Dustin Johnson and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama will spearhead the United States and International team lineups at the Presidents Cup later this month, it was confirmed yesterday. With the conclusion of the Dell Technologies Championship on Monday, the 10 automatic qualifiers for the two teams are confirmed for the Ryder Cup-style event to be held at Liberty National in New Jersey from September 28 to October 1.
US captain Steve Stricker and International skipper Nick Price will announce their two captain’s picks to complete their 12-man lineups today. The powerful US challenge will be led by Johnson, with Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka all providing heavyweight support.
Daniel Berger, Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar and Kevin Chappell complete the 10 confirmed players in the US line-up. Five US players are making their Presidents Cup debut this year — Thomas, Berger, Koepka, Kisner and Chappell. 
Phil Mickelson, who has played in a record 11 Presidents Cup events, is among those who will be hoping for a wildcard from Stricker. Matsuyama meanwhile heads a talented International team which draws players from Japan, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Venezuela and Canada.
Jason Day leads the Australian contingent which includes Adam Scott and Marc Leishman. South Africa is represented by Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, while Kim Si-Woo flies the flag for South Korea. Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) and Canada’s Adam Hadwin complete the initial list. Hadwin will be playing in the Presidents Cup for the first time, along with Kim and Vegas. “It’s huge to make the International team; I’ve been speaking about the Presidents Cup all week that it’s been in the forefront of my mind,” Hadwin said.

Thomas breaks into top five, McIlroy falls
 American Justin Thomas broke into the world’s top five for the first time, reaching fourth in the rankings after beating Jordan Spieth at the Dell Championship. The 24-year-old, who claimed his maiden major title at the PGA Championship last month, held off a Spieth charge to win the second FedEx Cup playoff event by three shots on Monday, his fifth PGA Tour victory of the season.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy was one of only 17 players to miss the cut in Massachusetts and the Northern Irishman has slumped to sixth in the world, his lowest ranking since July 2014. British Open champion Spieth’s second successive runner-up finish saw him close the gap on world number one Dustin Johnson.

World top 20: 
1. Dustin Johnson (USA) 12.34 average pts; 2. Jordan Spieth (USA) 10.41 ; 3. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 9.21; 4. Justin Thomas (USA) 8.08 (+2); 5. Jon Rahm (ESP) 7.43; 6. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 6.81 (-2); 7. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 6.66 (+1); 8. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 6.51 (-1) 9. Jason Day (AUS) 6.35; 10. Rickie Fowler (USA) 6.05; 11. Brooks Koepka (USA) 5.89 (+1); 12. Alex Noren (SWE) 5.78 (-1); 13. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.40; 14. Paul Casey (ENG) 5.25; 15. Justin Rose (ENG) 4.85; 16. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 4.62; 17. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 4.44; 18. Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 4.42 (+1); 19. Patrick Reed (USA) 4.35 (+2); 20. Adam Scott (AUS) 4.34 (-2)