Curtis heroics earn him Ryder Cup spot

(CNN) -- Ben Curtis has been rewarded for his runner-up finish in the U.S. PGA Championship by securing a place in the United States team for the Ryder Cup against Europe next month.

Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion, leapt from 21st to eighth spot in the U.S. standings.

With Tiger Woods sidelined, the top nine gained automatic places in captain Paul Azinger's team, with Boo Weekley sealing the last automatic place with a superb final round at Oakland Hills.

He closed with a 66 for a tie for 20th in the final major of the season, but it was the performance of Curtis which caught the eye.

He led going into the final round before two bogeys in the final four holes saw him bracketed with Sergio Garcia of Spain in a tie for second position behind winner Padraig Harrington.

Steve Stricker was the player pushed out of an automatic spot as a consequence of Curtis and Weekley playing so well -- and he now has the next three weeks to try to earn one of Azinger's four wild card picks.

Weekley will join Curtis and Anthony Kim in playing in their first Ryder Cup. "It's almost a victory in itself," said Curtis, who wears apparel of NFL teams when he plays on the PGA Tour.

In the absence of the injured Woods, Phil Mickelson heads the qualfiers for the U.S. team, with Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard also automatic choices.

Europe's final team will not be decided until September 2 with captain Nick Faldo having two nominated picks. Garcia's joint second place secured his spot in the team for the match at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 19-21.