Last updated: 18th August 2008
The race for Ryder Cup points is now well and truly on as the countdown to the 2008 match at Valhalla in Kentucky begins in earnest.
Keep up to date with who is where in the rankings for both the European and American teams with our tables which will be updated each week.
Remember, Sky Sports is the Ryder Cup channel and will be providing live and exclusive coverage of the 37th match this summer. The action gets underway on September 19 and we will bring you every moment as Europe bid to make it an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory.
We will also be there on Sunday August 31 when European captain Nick Faldo makes his wildcard announcements in the run-up to what promises to be one of the most exciting sporting occasions of the year.
(i) The leading five players on The Ryder Cup World Points List as of Sunday, August 31, 2008, or at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, whichever is the latter. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, August 25, 2008.
(ii) The leading five players, not otherwise qualified (having selected the five players from The Ryder Cup World Points List) from The Ryder Cup European Points List as of Sunday, August 31, 2008, or at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, whichever is the latter. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on The 2008 European Tour Order of Merit as of August 31, 2008, or at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, whichever is the latter.
(iii) The captain, (Nick Faldo), will choose the remaining two players on Sunday August 31 following the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
| Ryder Cup World Points List (As of August 18) | ||
| Position | Player | Points |
| 1. | PADRAIG HARRINGTON | 343.03 |
| 2. | LEE WESTWOOD | 266.18 |
| 3. | SERGIO GARCIA | 242.46 |
| 4. | HENRIK STENSON | 233.13 |
| 5. | ROBERT KARLSSON | 204.76 |
| 6. | Miguel Angel Jimenez | 202.35 |
| 7. | Justin Rose | 187.14 |
| 8. | Ian Poulter | 183.37 |
| 9. | Graeme McDowell | 175.81 |
| 10. | Martin Kaymer | 152.17 |
| Ryder Cup European Points List (As of August 18) | ||
| Position | Player | Points |
| 1. | Padraig Harrington | 2676219 |
| 2. | Lee Westwood | 2547952 |
| 3. | Robert Karlsson | 2183494 |
| 4. | MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ | 2092170 |
| 5. | GRAEME McDOWELL | 1993607 |
| 6. | Henrik Stenson | 1905481 |
| 7. | JUSTIN ROSE | 1424101 |
| 8. | OLIVER WILSON | 1366285 |
| 9. | SOREN HANSEN | 1363245 |
| 10. | Martin Kaymer | 1362973 |
(i) Qualification for the United States Team began with the four Major Championships contested in 2007, and will continue from January 1, 2008 until August 11, 2008. The top eight players will automatically qualify for the 2008 United States Ryder Cup Team.
(ii) The remaining four places are reserved for captain's picks. The captain, (Paul Azinger), will make those picks on September 2, 2008.
| US Ryder Cup Points List (Final standings, August 11) | ||
| Position | Player | Points |
| 1. | PHIl MICKELSON | 5,343 |
| 2. | STEWART CINK | 4953 |
| 3. | KENNY PERRY | 4881 |
| 4. | JIM FURYK | 4424 |
| 5. | ANTHONY KIM | 4035 |
| 6. | JUSTIN LEONARD | 3379 |
| 7. | BEN CURTIS | 3120 |
| 8. | BOO WEEKLEY | 2785 |
| 9. | Steve Stricker | 2664 |
| 10. | Woody Austin | 2423 |
Follow the action from Oakland Hills in association with RBS with live video on your PC of some of the key groups.
Golf correspondent James Haddock starts our build-up to Kentucky with his first Ryder Cup blog.
The latest standings in the race to make the US and European teams for Valhalla in September.