DiMarco & Riley earn Ryder Cup places

Chris DiMarco and Chris Riley played their way into the U.S. Ryder Cup team for the first time with top-four finishes at the U.S. PGA Championship on Sunday.

DiMarco, edged out in a three-way playoff for the title by Fiji's Vijay Singh, closed with a one-under 71 while Riley, with a 73, tied for fourth with world number two Ernie Els.

Fred Funk also qualified for the team for the first time, despite having missed the halfway cut at Whistling Straits after scores of 74 and 72.

"I'm proud of myself that I went out and did it and got it done," the 35-year-old DiMarco told reporters after climbing from 15th spot to eighth in the U.S. Cup standings.

"I don't know how (U.S. captain) Hal (Sutton) was thinking at all this week. I know you guys (the media) never mentioned me the whole week.

"Everybody kept going right to 14 (in the standings) and stopping at 15. So you guys were my motivation for sure."

Riley was delighted to force his way into the team after starting the week 18th in the standings.

"It's awesome," he said. "I don't think I can put it into words. To play for your country and everything, I get chills just thinking about it.

"I'm really proud of myself, the way I hung in there."

The 48-year-old Funk, who played with DiMarco in the U.S. Presidents Cup team last year, was also elated.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," he said. "I was frustrated missing the cut this week, not being able to control my own destiny.

"It was a real honour to be picked for the Presidents Cup last year by (captain) Jack Nicklaus, but I didn't want to have Hal make the decision.

"This is the highlight of my golf career."

The leading 10 players at the end of this week automatically qualified for the U.S. team to take on Europe at Oakland Hills from September 17-19. Sutton will add his two wildcard picks on Monday.

DiMarco and the 30-year-old Riley dislodged left-hander Steve Flesch and Ryder Cup veteran Jay Haas from the top 10.

Left-hander Flesch, who was ninth at the start of the week, slipped to 11th after a closing 76 earned him a tie for 37th place at Whistling Straits, level with Haas (77).

The 50-year-old Haas, bidding to become the oldest player to represent the U.S. at a Ryder Cup, dropped from 10th to 12th in the standings.

The 10 players who will represent the U.S. against Europe in Detroit, Michigan next month are: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, David Toms, Chad Campbell, DiMarco, Funk and Riley.

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