2018 Ryder Cup

Europe

Poulter - Has had a good August for the most part, so somewhat in form
RCB - in form. Had a good Ryder last time out
Wallace - Bang in form. Was told to play the last 2 events if he wanted a shot. Won the event that he needed to win. Thats clutch!
Casey - I dont want him. but I think he was more or less told he'd get on the team if he played enough events in Europe to qualify



US

DeChambeau
Woods
Mickelson
Finau

All in form - All deserve to be there

Rikand wrote: »

Casey - I dont want him. but I think he was more or less told he'd get on the team if he played enough events in Europe to qualify

I suspect that's the case alright, and also the issue. Hard to see Bjorn not picking him after specifically asking him to re-join the European Tour.

The other outlier (or not) is Sergio - has he been told something (one way or the other), given his lack of events in the last few weeks ? I can't believe that, with his passion for the event, he wouldn't at least try to impress the captain in some Euro events once he was out of the FedEx.

3 of the US captains picks in just over an hour....... the excitement!

https://www.rydercup.com/news-media/usa/jim-furyk-make-three-ryder-cup-captains-picks-5-pm-et-tuesday

All the questions aimed at Woods now - Poor Bryson and Phil just gotta sit there and stare

https://twitter.com/JustinRayGC/status/1037090716474920960?s=19

HighLine wrote: »

Completely disagree and that's not in hindsight. I'm not going to go back and look for my quotes but even before Westwood was picked 2 years ago, I said on here it would be stupid to pick him. More importantly, so did many golf pundits. Nepotism certainly didn't pay off for them in 2016.

Fair enough, it’s ok to disagree and I take your word regarding your powers of perception before the event. But I believe it is a fact that there was no media outcry when Westwood was announced as a pick, no foretelling of the disaster that was to befall him. Sure, some pundits might not have agreed with it but the consensus was that there were pluses and minuses to all the contenders and, in a team laden with rookies, WW had his merits. Ancient history now anyway.

From memory I think Westwood’s pick last time was viewed as a bit unusual / Clarke picking his buddie, without necessarily being outrageous. He was still a good player but he clearly wasn’t in form, yet if he’d held that birdie putt on Saturday, who knows ? Europe might have had a fighting chance on Sunday instead of it being effectively over. In an away match, Europe were just carrying too many players not at that very highest level imho.

I think the experience thing is a little overstated nowadays. I mean these guys will have mostly just played an event for $10m first prize, I don’t think Ryder Cup will be as daunting as it may have been a decade ago tbh. Justin Thomas is a rookie but I’d hardly think he needs a minder on day 1.

Also, I honestly don’t think any player has any right to feel aggrieved if he doesn’t get a pick. If you couldn’t make automatic qualifying you’ve left it purely to the whims of a captain who will have his own ideas. In fairness to Bjorn, nobody has really put their hand up and become a nailed on pick, whether that makes it easier or harder for him, who knows ?!

Russman wrote: »

Did he really though ? Yes he played brilliantly to win the event, but he was never within an a$$es roar of qualifying. Just because he won the final qualifying event wouldn’t necessarily put him in the conversation for me. 3 wins in a season is a better guide imo and you certainly couldn’t argue if he’s picked based on that alone.

I suppose time will tell. Not saying he'd be an outstanding Ryder cup player but kudos to him for winning when it was last chance saloon. He showed a lot of nerve under pressure so surely that's a plus. It is a pretty essential component of the Ryder cup format.

plumber77 wrote: »

I suppose time will tell. Not saying he'd be an outstanding Ryder cup player but kudos to him for winning when it was last chance saloon. He showed a lot of nerve under pressure so surely that's a plus. It is a pretty essential component of the Ryder cup format.

Absolutely, and I’d have no real qualms about him on the team, he seems to hit it far enough to compete (although length isn’t as crucial in Paris) and is a decent putter.

Poulter, Casey, Stenson & Wallace seems to be the most popular combination with the “pundits”.
Bjorn might have backed himself into a corner by asking Casey to rejoin the tour, that’s one pick down. Sky Sports would have a collective cardiac arrest if Poulter doesn’t get one, so that’s another one. Now it’s two from the likes of Stenson, Sergio, Rafa, Wallace, Pieters, Fitzpatrick, Knox, Pepperell etc.
Maybe he’ll be very bold and go Rafa & Pieters, I think that’s what I’d go with tbh.

Or be really, really bold and tell Hatton he’s injured, a la Seve with Miguel Martin

Russman wrote: »

Is he this year’s Andy Sullivan possibly ?

Possibly yeah.

Think he's missed 5 of the last 9 cuts including on the ryder cup course back in July. Think it would be a huge call to pick him over someone like RCB.