Tom Lehman could recommend yet another change to the way the United States select their Ryder Cup team - win or lose at the K Club near Dublin in September.

The US captain's mind is turning towards the two wild cards he will hand out at the end of the US PGA championship next month.

And it will not just be the official table he studies to make up his mind.

To gain points under the American system players have to finish in the top 10 at tournaments, regardless of how many overseas stars are competing against them.

"I've been keeping a list of the top 10 Americans each week for the last two years so I can kind of compare the lists - and I think it's been very much of an eye-opener," said Lehman, who is in Ireland this week both to finalise match details and to compete in the European Open which starts today.

"The top players you could give points based upon any system you want to and they would be at the top.

"But from maybe seven or so through 30 there's a huge difference when you include the top 10 Americans versus just top 10.

"So I may be leaning quite heavily on that secondary list.

"I'll give you an example: Stewart Cink a couple of weeks ago was 27th on the official Ryder Cup points list and he would be seventh if you were giving points to Americans each week.

"He's had a bunch of good finishes - 13th, 14th, ties for 10th in the Masters - where he has played pretty good golf, but not spectacular golf.

"To me it helps to see where you would be in another system. Going forward you need to look and see what you can do to make it even better yet and that may be a better system."

The Americans kept to top-10 finishes only for this year's match, but weighed this season much more heavily so that current form counted for more.

While Lehman's words were a hint that Cink might be one of his wild-card picks, whether Chris DiMarco will be another remains to be seen.

DiMarco has been widely earmarked as the partner for Phil Mickelson after their success in the Presidents Cup last year - just like Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk - but America's match-winner that week has not had a single top-20 finish since a skiing injury in March.

"I would have to say form is way more important than reputation," added Lehman.

"What he brings to the team is invaluable, but if he is not playing well how do you pick him?

"So my message to him is and has been 'Get yourself in the top 10. You've got two months. Go do it'."

One suspects, though, that even if DiMarco starts moving in the right direction again he can probably expect a wild card.

Lehman also revealed that he tried to stop DiMarco doing anything risky on his family vacation.

"I actually called a guy he was skiing with and said: 'Tell DiMarco if he blows out his knee I'm going to break his neck,"' said Lehman.

"He didn't break his knee, but he broke his rib or whatever."