Patrick Cantlay’s Desires Get Crushed as Collin Morikawa Had the Remaining Snigger

Patrick Cantlay had a dominant efficiency on the US Open. Because of his fourteen birdies all through the match, he completed at T3 with 276 4-under par. However what did he get in return? Sadly, nothing! At Pinehurst No. 2, Bryson DeChambeau claimed the silver trophy, whereas Collin Morikawa unexpectedly dashed Cantlay’s hopes for the Olympics. Fairly shocking, isn’t it?

At this 12 months’s PGA Championship, Cantlay completed tied for 53rd place. In comparison with his final main efficiency, the US Open was a lot better for the golfer. Nonetheless, in the case of the Paris Olympics, vital enchancment isn’t the one issue that counts; particular standards are additionally essential. One of many foremost standards is the Official World Golf Rating (OGWR), which determines eligibility for qualifiers primarily based on the highest 60 gamers within the record.

Curiously, among the many prime 60 gamers on the OWGR, the highest 15 are immediately eligible for the Olympic Video games, with a most of 4 golfers permitted per nation. Regardless of being ranked #8, Cantlay isn’t certified as a result of Crew USA’s quota is already crammed by Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Wyndham Clark, who’re the highest-ranked Individuals within the OWGR. Due to this fact, Cantlay’s desires have been nullified. This got here to mild not too long ago when @MorikawaTracker shared a publish on X captioning “It’s official! Collin would be the #4 participant for the USA on the Olympics, holding off Cantlay for the final spot.” 

Morikawa completed tied for 14th place at 2-over par with a complete rating of 282. His rating wasn’t tremendously affected due to his sturdy efficiency on the PGA Championship, the place he completed tied for 4th place. There may be additionally the Olympic Golf Rankings, which considers gamers exterior the highest 15 within the OWGR. This rating system prioritizes on-course efficiency, notably when a rustic doesn’t have already got two gamers within the prime 15. Profiting from this chance, Joaquin Niemann, regardless of his present rating of 99, has secured a spot for the Olympics. Not simply Cantlay, the 2024 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is going through the same destiny.

Why isn’t DeChambeau representing Crew USA alongside Collin Morikawa?

Bryson DeChambeau has undoubtedly been in first rate kind. Out of eight LIV Golf occasions thus far, the American completed within the prime 10 in 4 of them, together with his finest efficiency being fourth place at LIV Golf Jeddah. Nonetheless, because the OWGR doesn’t award factors to LIV Golfers, DeChambeau’s rating suffered, and he couldn’t qualify. Earlier than successful the US Open title this 12 months, the golfer was ranked thirty eighth in OWGR.

Nonetheless, after successful the title, his rating jumped considerably to tenth. It’s clear that every one his factors got here from Main tournaments alone. DeChambeau was a part of Crew USA in 2021 at Kasumigaseki Nation Membership in Tokyo, Japan, alongside Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and Collin Morikawa. Contemplating this, it should be heartbreaking for him to not signify his nation once more.