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Tony Finau has a tangible silver lining to take away from his latest Sunday disappointment on the PGA Tour.

His playoff loss to Max Homa at the Genesis Invitational was Finau’s third consecutive runner-up finish and his fourth consecutive top-4. He climbed to No. 4 in the official world golf rankings on Monday while also vaulting five spots to sixth in the Unites States Ryder Cup team standings.



Finau is currently occupying the final automatic spot on this year’s U.S. team, following Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas.

In most Ryder Cup years, the top eight players receive automatic berths on the U.S. team. However, that number was reduced to six this year to give Steve Stricker more flexibility with six captain’s picks.

Finau leapfrogged Collin Morikawa, Patrick Reed, Daniel Berger, Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay in the standings.

Meanwhile, Homa propelled up 20 spots to No. 14 with his win on the second playoff hole at Riviera Country Club. He is also a career-best No. 38 in the world, moving up 43 spots this week and 62 spots since being ranked No. 100 following the American Express last month.

Tiger Woods, who remains sidelined following his fifth back procedure, fell another spot to No. 24.



Stricker will make his selections following the 2021 Tour Championship.

Postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Ryder Cup will take place in September with the U.S. playing host to Team Europe at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)