McDowell moves into European Ryder Cup rankings

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Jun 18, 2012 11:48 AM ET

European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will pull 10 automatic qualifiers from two separate points lists. The top 5 players on the European Points List after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will make the team (Click to view U.S. Ryder Cup standings).

Top 5 after the 112th U.S. Open and Saint-Omer Open (points in parentheses):

1. Rory McIlroy (2,586,452.00)

2. Justin Rose (1,991,414.30)

3. Paul Lawrie (1,965,601.61)

4. Graeme McDowell (1,884,888.79)

5. Martin Kaymer (1,779,612.80)

Justin Rose moved up to second on the list, while Graeme McDowell cracked the top five to move Peter Hanson off the list.

The next five players will be the highest five on the World Points List not already on the team. Currently, that handful of players would consist of the following in order of their position on the list (points in parentheses):

2. Luke Donald (324.26)

3. Lee Westwood (264.22)

7. Peter Hanson (168.46)

9. Sergio Garcia (154.24)

10. Nicolas Colsaerts (126.98)

Hanson dropped out of the top five in European points but is among next five on the World Points List.

Olazabal will finalize his team by making two picks. Here are some players not currently inside the top five of either points list who deserve consideration:

Fredrik Jacobson: The Swede deserves a look after contending at the U.S. Open, but the odds of his selection remain long.

Alvero Quiros: Quiros missed the cut in San Francisco but did have a par-4 ace in a practice round. That's an eye-opener.

Ian Poulter: Poulter finished T-41 at the U.S. Open, which was disappointing given his current, steady form.

Thomas Bjorn: Bjorn missed the cut at the U.S. Open but remains a likely pick.

Padraig Harrington: The Irishman deserves a fresh look after getting into the running for the Open, finishing T-4.