Who do you want on the Ryder Cup team?

[SargeDesign]

My Picks:

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Steve Stricker

4. Lucas Glover

5. Bubba Watson

6. Tiger Woods

7. Corey Pavin (isn't he the captain?)

8. Dustin Johnson

 

I have no alternates to list.

[pughdog]

There's 12 on a team

[SargeDesign]

There's 12 on a team

 

I mentioned that I had no alternates to list.

[teoarx]

lee westwood

jan poulter

graeme mc dowell

rory mc ilroy

martin kaymer

francesco molinari

edoardo molinari

paul casey

miguel angel jimenez

luke donald

justin rose

[GolfSpy Dave]

Wish AK's game was stronger this year...

Boo's too, I suppose.

No horsey ride after the tee shot this year.

[cheymike]

Before his surgery, AK was doing OK, considering he was injured. He's looking at an August return to competition and hopes to play the PGA. I wish him luck and hope he can get everything fully rehab'd in time for the Ryder. He's 5th in the rankings.

[pughdog]

lee westwood

jan poulter

graeme mc dowell

rory mc ilroy

martin kaymer

francesco molinari

edoardo molinari

paul casey

miguel angel jimenez

luke donald

justin rose

 

That looks like one hell of a team!

[SargeDesign]

Definitely gonna be a tight one this year.

[Tyk]

I'd like to see AK play. That was a great show he put on last time and I think he deserves a spot if he's ready to go. It looks like that's doubtful at this point though.

 

I'd like to see Tiger play well. As much as everyone loves to hate him, and as much as I think he's a tool for doing what he did, golf is more fun with Tiger near the top.

 

It would be fun to do a Rider Cup Bracket, where each participant picks the wins, losses, and halves each day.

[OlStick]

The best 12 players over the last three months, based on placement in Tour events.

 

Qualification up to a year ago is old hat and stupid. You want the players who are playing their best NOW on the team. Also, names don't mean victories. Go with who wins in match play, not whose name is biggest. You want a victory, or you want names?

[RookieBlue7]

I'm gonna throw Justin Leonard's name in the hat too. Guy is great in match play. Rickie Fowler and Ryan Moore would be good additions too, IMO.

[Justin66]

My Picks:

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Steve Stricker

4. Lucas Glover

5. Bubba Watson

6. Tiger Woods

7. Corey Pavin (isn't he the captain?)

8. Dustin Johnson

 

I have no alternates to list.

 

 

I don't think Pavin will play, but probably can't rule it out. Mine, in no particular order:

 

1. PM

2. Mahan

3. Stricker

4. Bubba Watson

5. Dustin Johnson

6. Furyk

7. Kim

8. Crane

9. Rickie Fowler

10. JB Holmes

11. Zach Johnson

12. Ryan Moore

 

Could you imagine Furyk and Watson paired together? Or DJ and Stricker together? Or Holmes and Z. Johnson? That could be scary pairings, so long as the bombers can get stay near the fairway. Fowler could be paird with Mickelson, and Crane could just mentally unnerve his opponents with his slow-as-a-glacier pace.

[JohnBarry]

1. PM

2. Mahan

3. Stricker

4. Bubba Watson

5. Dustin Johnson

6. Furyk

7. Kim

8. Crane

9. Rickie Fowler

10. JB Holmes

11. Zach Johnson

12. Ryan Moore

 

I love this list!!!

[cheymike]

I really like it too, but Kim only if he VASTLY improves between now and the Ryder. +16 this weekend wasn't what I expected to see from him. I know he's just getting back, but if he doesn't do better, FAST, then I think he's coming back too soon.

[Justin66]

I really like it too, but Kim only if he VASTLY improves between now and the Ryder. +16 this weekend wasn't what I expected to see from him. I know he's just getting back, but if he doesn't do better, FAST, then I think he's coming back too soon.

 

 

Very true. He could be put on the bench, so to speak, for some of the match-ups. Kind of like a "play when necessary, based on how he feels" type of deal.

[Justin66]

Why, why, WHY would Pavin waste a captain's pick on Tiger? Didn't anyone learn from the last 4 or 5 Ryder Cups? Having the #1 golfer does NOT mean you'll win, yet a Tiger-less '08 squad managed just fine. Stupid, stupid, stupid move! It be different if he was playing better, because he'd have earned a spot. Why waste it on a guy that's played terrible- especially of late- when someone that is at least playing consistently gives the team a better chance of winning. The only way this team has any chance is if Tiger's paired with Stricker the whole time, but that's assuming he gets his head out of his @ss by then.

 

Europe, sounds like you already have this in the bag, especially with the how long that team looks on paper.

[Phana24JG]

It does not look good for the USA this year. The European team is stronger than ever, and we have no one who is really hot this year. Our Top Two players in the world look terrible, and even our match play specialists (Furyk and Leonard) are not playing very well. This is one year I desperately want to win. The thought of Mrs. Doubtfire hoisting the Ryder Cup makes me vomit. I would hope if we go down, Corey Pavin would kick his limp-wristed ass just to salvage our dignity.

[daves81]

I would like to see dustin johnson make the team ,Hes a dark horse i know .But I still like him.We need some of the young guys to step up

[mcbush25]

Here is who my team would be if the points stopped accruing today...

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Jim Furyk

4. Steve Stricker

5. Jeff Overton

6. Anthony Kim

7. Matt Kuchar

8. Lucas Glover

 

Captain's Picks

9. Tiger Woods

10. Sean O'Hair

11. Dustin Johnson

12. Rickie Fowler

 

While I keep thinking that this years squad doesn't have a snowballs chance in you know where, I can't also stop thinking that their will be enough new blood on the team that it will spurn the squad to play with some enthusiasm and moxie that the team had a few years ago at Valhalla.

[Justin66]

Here is who my team would be if the points stopped accruing today...

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Jim Furyk

4. Steve Stricker

5. Jeff Overton

6. Anthony Kim

7. Matt Kuchar

8. Lucas Glover

 

Captain's Picks

9. Tiger Woods

10. Sean O'Hair

11. Dustin Johnson

12. Rickie Fowler

 

While I keep thinking that this years squad doesn't have a snowballs chance in you know where, I can't also stop thinking that their will be enough new blood on the team that it will spurn the squad to play with some enthusiasm and moxie that the team had a few years ago at Valhalla.

 

Take Tiger off the list and add someone that's had a more consistent/better year and this isn't that bad of a team.

[jamo]

I still don't see how you can't put Tiger on your team. No, he hasn't had a great year. Lets look at the last two years: Phil (4 wins (3 last year)), AK (one win), Overton (no wins), Matt Kuchar (one win last year), Lucas Glover (one win last year), Sean O'Hair (one win last year), Rickie Fowler (no wins).

 

Tiger has had 2 top 4's in majors this, far better than any of the major finishes by the other guys I listed, and 6 wins last year. He doesn't have the points because all of his wins were last year and he has missed significant time the last two years.

 

He might not be playing well right now but who do you trust with the cup on the line- Tiger or Dustin Johnson? Tiger or Ricky Barnes? Tiger or Matt Kuchar? Tiger or Jeff Overton?

[Justin66]

I still don't see how you can't put Tiger on your team. No, he hasn't had a great year. Lets look at the last two years: Phil (4 wins (3 last year)), AK (one win), Overton (no wins), Matt Kuchar (one win last year), Lucas Glover (one win last year), Sean O'Hair (one win last year), Rickie Fowler (no wins).

 

Tiger has had 2 top 4's in majors this, far better than any of the major finishes by the other guys I listed, and 6 wins last year. He doesn't have the points because all of his wins were last year and he has missed significant time the last two years.

 

He might not be playing well right now but who do you trust with the cup on the line- Tiger or Dustin Johnson? Tiger or Ricky Barnes? Tiger or Matt Kuchar? Tiger or Jeff Overton?

 

Because he's never guaranteed a W in the past. I don't care how good of an individual golfer he is, he can't play within a team dynamic- unless he's paired with Stricker the whole time. Sure, he might try harder this year compared to years past- with his year going the way it has, you can't blame him (gotta have something positive)- but he isn't needed.

 

Look at '08. The US was forced to go without him. Who would've guessed AK (who thrrottled an almost always RC-dominate Sergio Garcia), Weekley, Mahan and Holmes would do as well as they did, considering they were rookies? It was "doom and gloom" without Woods... and they proved us (pleasantly) wrong.

 

I do believe Azinger had a bigger hand in things than captains from years past, but when you get down to it, the players still have to perform. Tiger, for whatever reason, doesn't feel the need to do so. If he'd have played his way onto the team, good on him. But he doesn't deserve a captain's pick.

 

Just a generalized thought: why do people say "We need who's hot now on the team", but salivate over the thought of a weak, wounded, just plain awful (currently) Tiger on the team? That doesn't make any sense to me.

[jamo]

Because he's never guaranteed a W in the past. I don't care how good of an individual golfer he is, he can't play within a team dynamic- unless he's paired with Stricker the whole time. Sure, he might try harder this year compared to years past- with his year going the way it has, you can't blame him (gotta have something positive)- but he isn't needed.

 

But no one guarantees a W. Not even close. But Tiger is as good, or better, than any of them.

 

Just a generalized thought: why do people say "We need who's hot now on the team", but salivate over the thought of a weak, wounded, just plain awful (currently) Tiger on the team? That doesn't make any sense to me.

 

I never said we need who's hot. Jeff Overton is as hot as anyone, but I still wouldn't pick him for my team. Phil is playing poorly right now too, same with AK. And Lucas Glover has been mediocre for the past two years except his US Open win.

[Justin66]

I never said we need who's hot. Jeff Overton is as hot as anyone, but I still wouldn't pick him for my team. Phil is playing poorly right now too, same with AK. And Lucas Glover has been mediocre for the past two years except his US Open win.

 

 

You know... I completely missed on Overton- didn't realize he was that high up there. Good point about PM, as well- you got me on that one!

 

The difference between Tiger and PM is that Phil has earned his spot; whether that's good or bad remains to be seen. Same with Tiger- if he had enough points to be in the top eight, this is a non-issue (in my eyes). It's just that, if you have to choose between a slumping Tiger and someone with a pulse, you go with the other guy. Kind of like pulling Cliff Lee- you know beyond doubt that he's a great pitcher, but if he's struggling, you have to put someone else in.

[OlStick]

My Picks:

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Steve Stricker

4. Lucas Glover

5. Bubba Watson

6. Tiger Woods

7. Corey Pavin (isn't he the captain?)

8. Dustin Johnson

 

I have no alternates to list.

I want winners. Like those with overall winning records. Like those who are playing well NOW, not last year. Like those whose stats are hot NOW going back a few months. Like those with character and leadership. Past reputations don't win matches; current ability does.

[OlStick]

My Picks:

 

1. Phil Mickelson

2. Hunter Mahan

3. Steve Stricker

4. Lucas Glover

5. Bubba Watson

6. Tiger Woods

7. Corey Pavin (isn't he the captain?)

8. Dustin Johnson

 

I have no alternates to list.

Who has the best match play records on the PGA tour? That's what we need to focus on. It's NOT the same game as stroke play, so why don't we select our team players based on that vs. the old standby of stroke play standings? How about any player whose record in match play tounaments are the strongest as a larger factor in who is chosen?