A Look At U.S. Ryder Cuppers Heading Into The FedEx Cup Playoffs
Summer is winding down. If you’re an instagram model, that probably sucks. If you’re a golf fan, that’s awesome, for in even years that means one thing and one thing only — Ryder Cup.
Fall is easily my favorite time of year. Warm days. Brisk nights. Sweaters. Football. Several weeks of slutty Halloween costumes. It’s awesome. Sure, the summer was great too: we had an unprecedented 4 major championships in 10 weeks (counting the Olympics), which produced incredible dramatics. From DJ thwarting off the tone deaf USGA to Stenson and Phil trading birdies in Scotland; from Jason Day applying pressure with an eagle on 18 at Baltusrol to Rose and Stenson separating themselves in Rio, it was an A+ summer for golf. And now we’re down to just 4 FedEx Cup events and the Ryder Cup. Then it’s hibernation time until the big boys reemerge in January (FYI, I predict Tiger’s return 1/26/17 at Torrey Pines).
Speaking of Tiger, Eldrick is a U.S. assistant captain this year. A few weeks ago, Captain Davis Love III revealed that Tiger had already sent him his captain’s picks. Love that — the guy is aggressive and, as we’ve all learned, lets people know what he wants.
From Task Forces to dinners at the GOAT’s place, the U.S. side has essentially forced itself to take a different approach this year. The Phil Mickelson/Tom Watson spar after a 16 1?2 – 11 1?2 European thumping in 2014 was the breaking point. For better or worse, the Ryder Cup Task Force was assembled, DLIII was named captain, the Billy Horschel rule was implemented*, and here we are.
Our Ryder Cup team gets assembled like this: For the past 2 years, players have been accumulating Ryder Cup points. At the end of this weekend’s Barclays at Bethpage, the top-8 in the points list will automatically qualify for the squad. They’re going. They’ll be at Hazeltine no matter how bad they play for the next month.
As for the other 4 team members, they’ll be captain’s picks. The first 3 picks will be made September 11th at the conclusion of play in the BMW; the final pick will be made September 26th after the conclusion of the Tour Championship (*this is the Horschel rule, created after he was left off the 2014 team only to go on and win the BMW, the Tour Championship, and the FedEx Cup 2 weeks before the Ryder Cup). After that, we’ll have our 12-man squad.
Here’s our top 24 in the standings as of right now (via PGA Tour).
The Locks
We have, in my opinion, 9 locks. These are either guys that have it mathematically locked up, are close enough and playing well enough that they will have it locked up this weekend, or are a combination of so close and so valuable that they will get a captain’s pick if necessary. Again, just my opinion. Here they are.
1. DJ
2. Spieth
3. Phil
4. Jimmy Walker
5. Brooks Koepka
6. Brandt Snedeker
7. ZJ
8. Reed
9. Bubba
1-5 — DJ, Spieth, Phil, Walker and Brooks are basically mathematical locks.
6 – A decent showing in New York from Sneds and he too mathematically locks it up. Factor in he’s one of the best putters on earth and playing well lately so, if it comes to it, he’ll be picked.
7 – That brings us to Zach Johnson. With 2 Ryder Cups under his belt (3-3-1 record), a 7-6-0 Presidents Cup record, and a British Open win at St. Andrews in a playoff last year, he’s a lock. Add that he hasn’t missed a cut since April and has finished 4 of last 7 events in top 17, and I just don’t see how he gets left out.
8 — Patrick Reed = 3-0-1 in his only Ryder Cup, 2014. He’ll 100% be there.
9 – And finally, Bubba Watson. While not everyone considers him a lock, I do. The way he shapes the ball, the way he’s performed under pressure — winning one Masters in a playoff and the other by outdueling Spieth — make him so appealing. He’s too big of a hitter, too big of a personality, and too experienced of a champion to be left at home. Bubba is in.
The Bubbles
There are a handful of bubble boys. These guys could go either way. With 9 locks, that leaves 3 spots.
A — Jimmy Furyk. I mean the guy shot 58 a few weeks ago, finished T2 at the US Open and T10 at the Wyndham last week. If he hadn’t missed a chunk of the year due to injury, he’d have more than enough points to be a lock. Biggest setback? His Ryder record sucks (9-17-4). I think he gets the nod, but that kinda pick would be wildly unpopular amongst the fans, as they always seem to point and yell at his awful record (I have done this many times).
B — Rickie Fowler. No, I do not consider Rickie a lock. Yes, he was on the Olympic team. Yes, he is on the Ryder Cup Task Force. Yes, he is one of the biggest stars in the game. But no, he has not been playing good golf this year. He’s got just 1 top-9 in his last 12 starts. 4 missed cuts in that span. Although he’s the no. 9 ranked player in the world and although I do believe he will eventually be picked, I do not think he’s a lock. Needs some very solid playoff play.
C — Matt Kuchar. Kuch charged for an impressive bronze medal at the Olympics last week and barely finds himself on the outside looking in points-wise. Although he too is a staple in the team rooms, he’s by no means a lock for this year’s Ryder Cup. The common sentiment is new blood, new memories, new attitudes. Kuch very well may suffer from what Furyk suffers from — a stigma of being part of the old, unsuccessful culture. I wouldn’t be surprised either way, but Kuch by no means should be booking any flights to Minneapolis.
D — JB Holmes. JB is one of the biggest hitters in the game. He was the home-state hero when the U.S. last won the Ryder Cup, 2008 at Valhalla. Those kind of attributes are huge for the Ryder Cup — you want long hitters, you want guys that have been there, you want guys that have won. With a combined Ryder and Presidents Cup record of 4-2-2, with one appearance in each, and sitting on the bubble at 9th in points, Holmes is a very, very attractive captain’s pick. I damn near consider him a lock, but you never know. These things can get political.
Beyond that, there are still a chunk of names that will get mentioned as “considerations.” There’s Scott Piercy, Bill Haas, Daniel Berger, Ryan Moore, Kevin Kisner, Justin Thomas, Webb Simpson. While these guys are chalked up as “in the mix” or “on the short list,” I believe each will come up a bit short. They need some FedEx Cup playoff magic to leap the other contenders.
And with the Horschel rule, they’ll definitely have that opportunity. It would be exhilarating to see a Justin Thomas or Daniel Berger win the Tour Championship, flinging himself into an $11 million pay day and some U.S. Ryder Cup gear.
Either way, that’s a look at our guys. I absolutely can. not. wait. for. this. tournament. The rare, biennial occasion when Bubba Watson is the man. September 30th – October 2nd, get me there.