Jim Furyk gestures on the 18th green after finishing 11-under.

AP / MARY SCHWALM

NORTON, Mass. –– Wherever he was yesterday, Paul Azinger had to be smiling. The American Ryder Cup team captain had to be thrilled when he checked what was happening in the Deutsche Bank Championship at the TPC of Boston.

Azinger is in a tough spot. For one of the rare times ever, the American team will be decided underdogs when they host the European side in three weeks at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Europe has won the last three matches and five of the last six (the exception being 1999’s stirring last-day rally at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.). And this time the American team goes in without Tiger Woods.

Azinger’s team will need play like it received yesterday. Three members of the American squad are in the top 10.

Ben Curtis, perhaps the hottest player on the squad, had his second straight 65 to stand at 130, two behind leader Tim Clark and in a tie for third with Vijay Singh. Jim Furyk, now one of the Ryder Cup team’s veteran leaders, recorded a 65 to get to 11-under 131 and a tie for fifth. And rising star Anthony Kim is tied for eighth at 132 after two 66s.

The Ryder Cup is such a priority that all three players admitted they are thinking about it even in the middle of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Kim, who won the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett in 2004, has won twice this year and relishes the chance to help turn it around.

“I really can’t put it into words. I can’t explain it,” the Oklahoma grad said of making the Cup team for the first time. “When I made the Walker Cup team as an amateur, I thought that was the great thing I could do. Obviously, this is one step ahead of that. I know when I lace my shoes up and will be representing the USA I’m going to be very proud and excited to be on that first tee.”

“I’m just trying to ride the high and I’m playing extremely well; got a lot of confidence,” Cutis said.

As well as the guys already on the team played yesterday, Azinger probably spent more time monitoring others. A press conference is scheduled Tuesday at which the captain will fill out the final four spots on his team. When asked their opinions, Kim and Curtis both mentioned Steve Stricker as a possible choice. Kim also mentioned Scott Verplank and Hunter Mahan as possibilities. All made the cut here, Mahan with a 64 yesterday.

Furyk, a veteran of five Ryder Cup teams, refused to be drawn in. He responded only in generalities when asked about guys he thought Azinger should consider to join him, Kim, Curtis, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Justin Leonard and Boo Weekley on the American team.

“I think you look at guys that are going to fit in well with the team chemistry,” he said. “You look at guys that their games would suit Valhalla and the way it’s going to be set up. You look at how much veteran status or young players we have on the team and you might weigh in putting in guys that have a little bit of experience just to pat some of the rookies on the back.”

The European team includes Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jiminez, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson. Nick Faldo, the European captain, has a press conference scheduled today to announce his picks for the last two spots on his team.

Quigley finally makes cut

Brett Quigley got a monkey off his back yesterday, and did it the hard way.

The Barrington resident made the cut for the first time at the Deutsche Bank, just barely. He recorded a 70 for 139, to get in on the number. The way he did it made it especially rewarding.

He started on the back nine and bogeyed 10 then doubled the par-4 17th after being only 25 feet from the hole in two. He was off the green.

“I just caught a horrible lie. I tried to get too cute and left it there,” he said. It led to a six. That meant he was 1-over for the tournament. Playing late in the day, he knew he was four shots over the cutline.

“It wasn’t looking good,” he said. “I knew what I needed to do and I did it, so I’m very happy.”

Three birds and one bogey left him two outside the cut with three to play. He nearly chipped in for eagle on the par-7 seventh and made birdie. He had two of the toughest holes left to play and still needed one more. He got it on the par-3 eighth.

“I had 225 yards and hit a 5-iron as hard as I could. I was pretty pumped up,” he said. It ended up 7 feet from the hole and he made the putt. After a routine par on the final hole, he was in.

“It was a nice way to finish,” he said. “I’m very happy.”

Sheehan bows out

Warwick’s Patrick Sheehan was not as fortunate. He shot 74 and missed the cut by three.

“I let a couple drives get away,” he said. “I’ve got to play well on this course to be in it and I just didn’t do it.”

His downfall came in the middle of the round. He also started on the back. He was 1-over for the day, 2-under for the tournament through eight. His ninth was the par-5 18th, one of the easiest holes on the course. He bogeyed. Then, he doubled the first hole and he was on his way out.

Saving finish for Mickelson

Defending champion Mickelson made the cut thanks to a strong finish. He was 4-over in his first seven, then 5-under in the last 11. He birdied two of his last three, making a 14-footer on the final hole, to stay alive.

“I stopped hitting bad shots, started hitting good ones,” he said. “There was no real magic. I just got off to a poor start and just kind of hung in.”

pkenyon@projo.com