Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - The changes have been made to the selection process, the standings have been set, so what now for the United States Ryder Cup team?

Captain Paul Azinger had the rules changed so that he had four captain's selections instead of two. He also pushed for a delay in the selection date so that he could get the hottest players at the right time.

With Tiger Woods out for the year, the top-eight in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings were set after last week's PGA Championship. Those eight are Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis and Boo Weekley.

Among those battling for the last four spots are Steve Stricker, Woody Austin, D.J. Trahan, Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair, Rocco Mediate, Zach Johnson and J.B. Holmes.

One thing is for sure, if Azinger's selections come from that group of players, he will not be picking someone with an excessive amount of International team competition.

Stricker and Johnson have the most experience in that group. Stricker has competed on two Presidents Cup team, while Johnson has played on one Presidents Cup and one Ryder Cup team.

Austin and Mahan have each played on one Presidents Cup team. Trahan and Holmes haven't played in either the Ryder or Presidents Cup, but did compete on the U.S. Walker Cup squad as amateurs.

Mediate's most extensive team play came when he played in the 2003 UBS Cup. O'Hair on the other hand, has yet to represent the U.S. in any team competition. He was originally scheduled to play in the WGC - World Cup last year, but his partner - Arron Oberholser - backed out due to injury and two new players were chosen.

"We've got eight players established, and I'm really happy that I don't have to pick four players this morning, I can tell you that," Azinger joked on Monday.

Azinger has a game plan going forward as he will choose his captains' selections on September 2nd, the day after the third event of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

"I have some really good friends that play this tour that are out there with chances to get on this team, and there's a bunch of guys who I don't know at all who have an opportunity to get on this team, and some of them are close," said Azinger. "So I'll do what's best for us, what's best for the American Ryder Cup Team.

"I'll look beyond friendships, and just try to do what's right and get the best players on this team. So putting friendships aside, I will just reach out to the players that I think are the most confident and playing the best."

That's where the trouble lies. None of the eight players is exactly tearing it up.

Stricker has one top 10 in his last 11 starts. Austin has two top 10s, including a tie for second at the Buick Open, in his last 13 events. Mahan has just four top 10s in 22 starts this year with his best finish at tie for second as he defended his title at the Travelers Championship.

Mediate followed up a tie for sixth at the Memorial with his epic playoff loss to Woods at the U.S. Open. His best finish since is a share of 18th. Johnson won twice last year, but has a single top 10 this year.

The other three players have won this season, but have not been tearing it up since.

Trahan won in January at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, but his best finish since is a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open. O'Hair won the PODS Championship in March and has tied for third twice, but has just two top-20 finishes in his last seven starts. Holmes won the FBR Open for the second time in his career, but has missed the cut in four of his last seven starts.

Trahan made an unconventional choice to play on the European Tour this week, which could hurt his cause since he is well over the cut line after one round.

So as you can see, Azinger has his work cut out for himself. He said he'll look outside the box and grab someone off another tour if that player tears it up over the next three weeks, but can he really take a non-PGA Tour player? Hard to say.

DONALD ALSO OUT OF RYDER CUP

With all the focus in the U.S. on Tiger Woods and his recovery from knee surgery, the European team will be without one of its better players, too.

Luke Donald injured his wrist at the U.S. Open and hasn't played since. Earlier this week he opted for surgery and will miss the remainder of the year as well.

Donald has an impressive Ryder Cup resume in his two appearances at the event. In 2004, Donald posted a strong 2-1-1 mark. Then he was perfect in 2006 as he ran up a 3-0-0 record. The 30-year-old is 5-1-1 in the biennial competition, but won't compete in it again until at least 2010.

EXTRA TIDBITS

- Ireland's Des Smyth has made a comfortable living on the Champions Tour, earning over $4 million on the tour. In a true luck of the Irish moment, his son won more than three times that amount, about $15 million, in the Irish lottery on Wednesday.

- Here's the Michelle Wie update for the week. If she plans on competing full time on the LPGA Tour next year, she needs either a first or second place this week at the Canadian Women's Open to avoid a trip to the LPGA Qualifying Tournament. This is her last sponsor's exemption to use this year.