NEWS

Mahan's hot streak moves him forward in bid to make American team
 
Jun. 25, 2007
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By Abbey Mastracco
PGATOUR.com staff

Time is running short for players who want to make the U.S. Team that will play for the legendary Jack Nicklaus in the Presidents Cup.

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Hunter Mahan (WireImage)

For two weeks straight, though, no one in the top-10 of the American standings has budged, and in three weeks only the bottom five have shifted, and minimally at that.

The biggest change this week actually did not affect the top-10, but instead places 12-20. Hunter Mahan made the biggest move this weekend, jumping 42 spots to No. 21 after his first TOUR win at the Travelers Championship on Sunday. The victory was Mahan's third top-25 in a row.

Although Mahan, who tied for 13th at the U.S. Open, struggled in the spring, his recent power surge has continued to improve his ranking every week. With seven weeks -- and two more majors -- remaining before the team is finalized, he has several opportunities to gain ground.

If Mahan, who turned 25 on May 17, were to make the team or be selected as a Captain's Pick, he would be the youngest player in the event. The U.S. Team is based on PGA TOUR earnings -- with those earnings doubled this year.

The International top-10 did change, but only slightly. The top six stayed the same, despite Vijay Singh's fourth-place finish at the Travelers Championship. Angel Cabrera, who jumped into the rankings after his win at the U.S. Open, moved one spot to No. 7.

Nick O'Hern has moved into the standings at No. 10, pushing Aaron Baddeley out of the automatic qualifiers. O'Hern finished tied for third at the Travelers Championship on Sunday, but his finish was only good enough to move him up one spot.

Baddeley, meanwhile, has only played twice in the last six weeks. He could have improved his position considerably had it not been for that 80 on Sunday at the U.S. Open, where he held the lead entering the final round.

The International Team standings are based on the Official World Golf Ranking. Like Nicklaus, International Captain Gary Player will complete his team with two Captain's Picks on Aug. 13.