Steve Stricker's slim chance of making the United States Ryder Cup team is gone after the 47-year-old confirmed he will not play again until December due to injury.

Stricker was chosen as one of captain Tom Watson's assistants alongside Andy North and Ray Floyd, and after a seventh-placed finish at the US PGA Championship, Watson said he had not ruled out handing the 12-time PGA Tour winner a wild card.

But Stricker has confirmed he is going to "shut it down" for the time being due to back and hip injuries.

"Sounds like I've got a back and hip issue. Going to shut it down till December. Rest and rehab and then try to play," he texted journalists.

Although Stricker's chances of playing in a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup at Gleneagles next month were slim, Watson said after the US PGA at Valhalla that his vice captain was still keen to try to make the team.

The Wisconsin man is the latest in a growing list of players who Watson will not have at his disposal when the Ryder Cup tees off on September 26.

Tiger Woods has ruled himself out due to his own back problems while Dustin Johnson has taken a break from the game to get "professional help for personal challenges".

Matt Kuchar has qualified for the team but could be a doubt after he withdrew before the start of the US PGA with a back injury, while Jason Dufner's title defence lasted just 10 holes with a serious neck problem and he dropped out of the automatic places as a result.

Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Zach Johnson are the nine players automatically qualified for Tom Watson's team, with the captain announcing his three picks on September 2.