USA Wildcards

Simple question. Who should Tom Watson pick?

I've chosen Bradley (dead cert), Snedeker (needs one good result) and Moore (fine match-play record).
But I'd think he'll go for Stricker.

Keegs because he really wants it, Hunner because he's showing a touch of form and Stricker for the experience.

Bradley, Moore, Simpson

You can take the joker out of wildcard consideration as Woods has nixed the Ryder Cup citing fitness concerns and back rehab.

No word yet on the Duf and no word from Camp Kuchar as to whether he'll be good to go at The Barclays.

9C's "W"D is great news for the American team, a record which only looks slightly better than poor because of a half decent singles record.

Moore, Snedeker and Koepka (if he's not already in)

Bradley, Mahan, Sneds

When does he make the announcement?

Bradley, Mahan and Moore for me.

After the first two playoff events.

Dufner (if fit) If not then Kirk
Moore
Todd

Kirk and Todd are both highly ranked in the fedex standings, showing that they are in good form this season.

Kwini
Unless of course you know that Bradley is certain to get a pick? Has Watson confirmed this?

I'd be amazed if Keegles doesn't get picked, but no of course no formal announcement has been made yet.

Mac,
No way of knowing Bradley will be in for sure, but I'd bet my house on it.

Are you that confident about his selection because of his partnership with Mickelson last time?

Probably due to a lack of other options, it's a very long tail indeed.

Yep - none of those picks would overly excite me as a captain at this stage based on their form. Keekin Badly looks like the best of an average bunch.

Mac,
They seem to be leaning toward a Phil/Rickie partnership, but Bradley has ticked all the boxes except securing the results he needed to get in to the Team; he and Furyk were also the only two, out of about 20 invited, to play Gleneagles w/Watson before The Open.

No way he won't be chosen.

I must have missed something about Keegan this year as it seemed to me like a horrible season so far for him.

Mac,
Certainly a long way from expectations (his anyway), but runner up at Bay Hill, three fourth-place finishes incl Pinehurst & Firestone, nine other Top 20's, 23rd in FedEx pts, is not all that bad.
Big drawback for him was lack of "Major" Ryder Cup pts carried forward from last year.
No way he doesn't get to go.

kwinigolfer wrote:Mac,
Certainly a long way from expectations (his anyway), but runner up at Bay Hill, three fourth-place finishes incl Pinehurst & Firestone, nine other Top 20's, 23rd in FedEx pts, is not all that bad.
Big drawback for him was lack of "Major" Ryder Cup pts carried forward from last year.
No way he doesn't get to go.

Certainly a far, fa,r far better year than 9C, who up until yesterday was still in the running for a RC pick despite a shiversome RC record, no form and a dubious back "injury"

sirbenson wrote:Simple question. Who should Tom Watson pick?

"Simples" answer.  The two best putters on that list.  This is match play and nothing sickens an opponent more than a player who keeps holing putts even when they are being 'golfed' off the course.

Snedeker and Stricker then . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Snedeker and Stricker then . . . . . .

Sorted! 

Next! 

Super

Do you know that Tiger has only ever lost one singles match.

Mac, you do know that I said earlier that his singles record is all that redeems his dreadful record don't you?

What use is he  if he's only really a force in one fifth of the event.

His record in sinlges is 4-2-1, good, but not amazing. Monty has a better record for goodness sake.

Like I said earlier, his absence makes the USA a much stronger team than if he was in it.

Mac,
Woods is also 7-1 down to Westwood in fourball/foursomes Ryder Cup play. Perhaps McGinley striving to match Lee against Tiger would have been the recipe for close to four points.

Pretty much as irrelevant as Woods's singles record.

Bradley, Simpson and Moore for me....I picked Tiger originally before he pulled out!

I wonder if Koepka has come into Watson's thinking at all?

Sure he has. But a bit too far down the rankings (40) to be taken seriously. Maybe he could come along as apprentice and ride the cart with Tom Watson. (Just hope it'll do him better than it did for Rhys Davies...)

How about Harris English? I know he'd be a rookie but has had a solid season (to wit) and a good Walker cup showing in 2011 (for what it's worth).

Harris isn't a rookie. He got his PGA card in 2012.
Wouldn't be a bad choice though.

Ryder cup rookie

Ah right, I see.
I've almost lost interest in Ryder Cup before it's begun. I don't think I can bear Salmond trying to score political points off it, as he's bound to do. Hopefully there will be no Scottish involvement.

Not got a ticket then super?! Has anyone here been to a RC as a spectator, and how does it compare with attending other sporting events?

super, I'm sure you'll be spamming this board as soon as the RC is on, just as I bet you can't resist tuning in to the opening ceremony just to catch a glimpse of the spawning salmon.  

I actually can't bear to watch the man in anything. He makes me mad. I should have pushed him down the stairs when I had the chance.

RC as spectator?
Fantastic, Best sporting experiences ever.
Harris English has been pretty much missing in action the past few months - no chance of being a chosen one.

I found the RC to be awful to watch in person (Day 1). I was at Oakland Hills in 04, and massive crowds following a few groups. Big Screen TV's everywhere but they turned them off most of the time so people would not cheer (unnecessarily) while someone was putting (yet they allowed radio headsets?). Camp out at #17 or #18 and groups might not even get that far. Best seen on TV.

I would be surprised if this exhibition event is close this year. Euro team very strong.

But speaking of 04, I think Langer should be a pick!

(Kwin - Newport in fine shape, but Toni as cranky as ever!)

Wouldn't be too sure SR. Last two RC's have been nip and tuck.

When's the last time the U.S. won away from home?

1993, wow, that's ever such a long time ago

It is, seems they don't travel well.

They travel very well, it's just they've not been much kop when they arrived!

Do America need to take on another country to help?

Maybe south america could chip in?

Villegas, Vegas, Cabrera, Romero and err, err. Maybe not.

I request the island of Ireland! Plenty of Irish descent here; but not the world class golfers!

Sr,
Good to hear about the GCoN.

Went to '87, '91 and '95 RC's and was able to see everything I wanted; fantastic atmospheres, wonderful golf and logistics excellent for all three.
Understand it may have become more of a zoo now; helps to be fit . . . . and tall!

You can have Harrington shotrock!

incontinentia wrote:You can have Harrington shotrock!

In fact he'd be a perfect sub for Woods: Unstable for years, lives off past glory and has a dodgy RC record.

incontinentia wrote:Not got a ticket then super?! Has anyone here been to a RC as a spectator, and how does it compare with attending other sporting events?

Had a season Ticket in 2010 and went every day, putting aside the monsoon and the festival quality knee deep mud (thought I'd mention that as Gleneagles in late September is likely to offer similar fare!!), I thought it was brilliant, the crowd/player banter on the practice days was brilliant and hilarious, I thought that would all subside on the match days but it didn't really. The 1st tee gallery is electric. The chants just got funnier and funnier. The Sunday is tricky to get yourself in the right place (in saying that in 2010 it was actually the Monday :-p ). Listening to the on course radio it became clear when they were around 13/14 that the McDoo/Mahan match was going to be the crucial one, managed to get myself pretty much just behind the camera man on 16, fantastic atmosphere when that putt dropped, que the stampede for a view on 17. I'd also went to the Open at Turnberry the year before and even with all the brouhaha about Watson nearly wining a 6th, it just didn't compare with the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup. I'd recommend to anyone, if you get the chance of a ticket, grab it with both hands. Having said that I do wonder what it would have been like if the Americans had come through that day.