Just when it appeared Steve Stricker might burst Zach Johnson’ bubble to make the United States Presidents Cup golf team, Johnson took it upon himself to secure a spot on the squad Monday.

Johnson, 37-year-old Cedar Rapids product, drained a 26-foot birdie on his last hole at the Deutsche Bank Championship to qualify for his third Presidents Cup team. The Deutsche Bank was the final event in the qualifying process.

Ten players automatically qualify for the Presidents Cup, which will be played Oct. 3-6 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Johnson entered the Deutsche Bank in 10th place, just behind Webb Simpson and just ahead of Steve Stricker.

Stricker roared to a second-place finish Monday behind Henrik Stenson, which could have bounced Johnson from the automatic spot. But Johnson, playing in the same group as Simpson in the final round, birdied two of his last three holes to finish off a round of 5-under-par 66 and a tie for 27th. Simpson bogeyed two of his final four holes and finished tied for 53rd.

"I didn't know what the point situation was, between he and I,’’ Johnson told pgatour.com. “Actually I thought he was at 8 (on the Presidents Cup standings). I thought he jumped to eighth last week. But I guess you've got to go into it and just play.

"And I stayed in my process. I stayed just playing and hitting shots. I had a good day today. I missed some short putts, but I made some long putts. It was an odd day."

Simpson still has a chance to make the team. U.S. captain Fred Couples will make two alternate picks Wednesday.

“If that’s the case, I wish there were a way we could somehow be tied for 10th,’’ Johnson said. “Just because I want Webb on the team. I know how he plays.’’

For Johnson, it is another notch in a stellar professional career. The 9-time PGA Tour event winner and 2007 Masters champion also played in the 2007 and 2009 Presidents Cup. His career record in that event is 4-5. He has also played in three Ryder Cups.

Joining Johnson on the team will be Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, Stricker and the two additional players Couples will pick.

The International Team automatic qualifiers are Angel Cabrera, Jason Day, Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Brenden Grace, Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott and Richard Sterne. The Americans are 7-2 in Presidents Cups.

Johnson has more work to do before the Presidents Cup. His finish at the Deutsche Bank left him in 27th place in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 70 will play at the BMW Championship Sept. 12-15 in Lake Forest, Ill. The top 30 in the standings after that event qualify for The Tour Championship Sept. 19-22 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

"And I don't like to be a proud-filled man, the last two and a half, three months I've turned my game around," Johnson said. "I've played consistent golf. I had a hiccup on Friday, bogeyed my last three out of four holes. And outside of that I don't even know. I don't know what I've done.

"Just a lot of solid, solid golf. And I think it just reaffirms what I'm doing. It reaffirms that I have a great team. Great leadership. Trust. I trust in the Lord in everything I do."

Johnson posted five straight top 10 finishes before the Deutsche Bank, including a playoff loss at the John Deere and two strong showings in majors, a tied for 6th at the British Open and tied for 8th at the PGA Championship.