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Official 2014 Ryder Cup Thread

qcdeac

qcdeac

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Thought Tom Watson had to make his picks today, but he has until Sept. 2. Webb and Bill (#28 in standings) can make their case for a captain's pick with good showings in GSO or the 1st 2 weeks of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Place Player Points
1 Bubba WATSON 6,930.04
2 Rickie FOWLER 6,733.25
3 Jim FURYK 6,707.69
4 Jimmy WALKER 6,111.41
5 Phil MICKELSON 5,510.34
6 Matt KUCHAR 5,114.67
7 Jordan SPIETH 4,835.83
8 Patrick REED 3,650.23
9 Zach JOHNSON 3,568.69
Top 9 Automatically Qualify

10 Jason DUFNER 3,559.72
11 Ryan MOORE 3,352.87
12 Brendon TODD 3,343.38
13 Keegan BRADLEY 3,324.70
14 Chris KIRK 3,287.88
15 Webb SIMPSON 3,155.57


Think Duf will be out because of back; Tiger should be, but Tom Watson is keeping the door open for him. Bradley should be in. Todd has had a great year, so he could make the team with strong showings over the next 3 weeks. Snedeker (#20), Mahan (#25) and Stricker (#29) also merit consideration.

If I had to guess based on today's comments by Watson, he goes with Woods, Bradley and Stricker. Stricker played with Watson on Thursday and Friday and put up 4 rounds in the 60s to T7. If Woods says he can't help the team, will Watson go with a 4th rookie to join Speith, Walker and Reed? Hopefully someone on the bubble wins in the next 3 weeks.

He hasn't played well since his wife had the baby, but I think Reed will be a good Ryder Cup player. He was good in match play as an amateur and I see him pissing off some Euros. Sadly, no US Ryder Cupper has won since April.
 
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I hate Tiger more than most, but you have to take him IMO. The US are playing with house money right now. Europe embarrassed us at home two years ago and will now be heavily favored to win on their soil. I don't see the downside to bringing Tiger. If we were the favorites and had something to lose, yeah, sure, leave Tiger at home and play it safe, but that's definitely not the case at the moment. This thing could be virtually over before singles match play even gets started.
 
No, if Watson has any hope of winning, he leaves Tiger at home. Even when Tiger has been healthy enough to play this year, he's sucked. Really sucked. Dude can't hit a driver to save his life, and that doesn't bode well for Gleneagles. Add to that he has a poor RC record. Plus, it's not like he's a great locker room guy. He and Phil don't get along, and he makes Zach watch pron (which I think is hilarious). And if you're Watson, you may already have another guy on your team who may or may not be able to play for health reasons - Kucher. You can't be facing automatic loss points for injured folks like when Kerr had to withdraw in the Solheim Cup singles. And even though DJ is super talented, it's prolly just as well he took himself out in terms of chemistry. The most import trait captains should be looking for is good recent form. If it were me, I'd definitely take Keegan because he's been playing ok, has a good RC record and has a natural pairing with Phil. I'd prolly take Moore, who's playing well and has a good match play history. And then Todd who is having a nice year. The only other guy further down the list who is intriguing to me is Sneds if he has a good showing or 2 the next couple of weeks. He has the experience and is a good putter. Maybe Stricker if I feel desperate. Not Mahan - can't putt and hasn't had his best year. And with Kucher's and Tiger's backs and Duf's neck in mind, when is the last possible date to make an injury replacement?

McGinley's job is pretty easy in terms of captain's picks. The next 3 on the world list are Donald, Gallacher (who is Scottish and who is having a nice year) and Poulter. No reason to look further.
 
cville deac said:
No, if Watson has any hope of winning, he leaves Tiger at home. Even when Tiger has been healthy enough to play this year, he's sucked. Really sucked. Dude can't hit a driver to save his life, and that doesn't bode well for Gleneagles. Add to that he has a poor RC record. Plus, it's not like he's a great locker room guy. He and Phil don't get along, and he makes Zach watch pron (which I think is hilarious). And if you're Watson, you may already have another guy on your team who may or may not be able to play for health reasons - Kucher. You can't be facing automatic loss points for injured folks like when Kerr had to withdraw in the Solheim Cup singles. And even though DJ is super talented, it's prolly just as well he took himself out in terms of chemistry. The most import trait captains should be looking for is good recent form. If it were me, I'd definitely take Keegan because he's been playing ok, has a good RC record and has a natural pairing with Phil. I'd prolly take Moore, who's playing well and has a good match play history. And then Todd who is having a nice year. The only other guy further down the list who is intriguing to me is Sneds if he has a good showing or 2 the next couple of weeks. He has the experience and is a good putter. Maybe Stricker if I feel desperate. Not Mahan - can't putt and hasn't had his best year. And with Kucher's and Tiger's backs and Duf's neck in mind, when is the last possible date to make an injury replacement?
Click to expand...

Watson's comment earlier today: "He is Tiger Woods," Watson said. "He brings something to the team in a big way. He's been really good in the team room recently and he's a factor with the players. I know that for a fact. He's a very positive influence on the players.

I think he is a much better locker room guy than he used to be....still don't think he should be on this team for the other reasons mentioned.

Need more details on Zach having to watch pron.
 
God I forgot about Poulter. That dude is going to eat our soul.
 
qcdeac said:
Thought Tom Watson had to make his picks today, but he has until Sept. 2. Webb and Bill (#28 in standings) can make their case for a captain's pick with good showings in GSO or the 1st 2 weeks of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Place Player Points
1 Bubba WATSON 6,930.04
2 Rickie FOWLER 6,733.25
3 Jim FURYK 6,707.69
4 Jimmy WALKER 6,111.41
5 Phil MICKELSON 5,510.34
6 Matt KUCHAR 5,114.67
7 Jordan SPIETH 4,835.83
8 Patrick REED 3,650.23
9 Zach JOHNSON 3,568.69
Top 9 Automatically Qualify

10 Jason DUFNER 3,559.72
11 Ryan MOORE 3,352.87
12 Brendon TODD 3,343.38
13 Keegan BRADLEY 3,324.70
14 Chris KIRK 3,287.88
15 Webb SIMPSON 3,155.57


Think Duf will be out because of back; Tiger should be, but Tom Watson is keeping the door open for him. Bradley should be in. Todd has had a great year, so he could make the team with strong showings over the next 3 weeks. Snedeker (#20), Mahan (#25) and Stricker (#29) also merit consideration.

If I had to guess based on today's comments by Watson, he goes with Woods, Bradley and Stricker. Stricker played with Watson on Thursday and Friday and put up 4 rounds in the 60s to T7. If Woods says he can't help the team, will Watson go with a 4th rookie to join Speith, Walker and Reed? Hopefully someone on the bubble wins in the next 3 weeks.

He hasn't played well since his wife had the baby, but I think Reed will be a good Ryder Cup player. He was good in match play as an amateur and I see him pissing off some Euros. Sadly, no US Ryder Cupper has won since April.
Click to expand...

Wow.
 
If they put Tiger on the team, I swear I'm rooting for Europe.

Gonna be a TOUGH year for the US, would be fun to upset the Euros.
 
Screamindemon3 said:
I hate Tiger more than most, but you have to take him IMO. The US are playing with house money right now. Europe embarrassed us at home two years ago and will now be heavily favored to win on their soil. I don't see the downside to bringing Tiger. If we were the favorites and had something to lose, yeah, sure, leave Tiger at home and play it safe, but that's definitely not the case at the moment. This thing could be virtually over before singles match play even gets started.
Click to expand...

I see a tremendous downside to taking Tiger. He's playing like crap and is injured. That and not having a history of great team play makes it easy to leave him home, IMO. Azinger said he expected Tiger to call Watson and opt out so Tom doesn't have to take the heat of leaving him off the team. I thought that was an interesting expectation.
 
Bring Tiger as assistant corch maybe but if he plays that's just handing Europe points.
 
Watson's comment that the decision is in tiger's hands because it "depends on how he assesses himself" is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Tiger has definitively proved he is incapable of doing that.
 
If all are healthy/want to play, I think it is Woods/Dufner/Keegan. If Woods and/or Dufner are out, it is probably Keegan and then two hot hands
 
qcdeac said:
Watson's comment earlier today: "He is Tiger Woods," Watson said. "He brings something to the team in a big way. He's been really good in the team room recently and he's a factor with the players. I know that for a fact. He's a very positive influence on the players.

I think he is a much better locker room guy than he used to be....still don't think he should be on this team for the other reasons mentioned.

Need more details on Zach having to watch pron.
Click to expand...

Watson said those things because he has to say those things. Doesn't mean he believes it. But he may be a better chemistry guy than he used to be. I can buy that. But you still only have a couple of guys you can pair with him on the 1st 2 days - only Furyk and Spieth come to mind. And I think it was Curtis Strange who had the brilliant idea of putting Tiger and Phil together, which is the golf equivalent of getting into a land war with Russia. And that last sentence about Tiger being a positive influence on the players is complete bs. Who, Tom, does Tiger have a very positive influence upon? Not Phil or any member of his posse, not Bubba, not Zach, and I doubt that he makes any difference either way with guys like Furyk or Walker. Maybe Spieth - that's prolly the list. But if Watson does leave this decision in Tiger's hands, that's just plain idiocy because Tiger may be self centered than Bieber and all the Kardashians combined. His ego is incapable of making an honest assessment.

GP, Dufner is sounding extremely doubtful at this point. Obviously, you'd take him if healthy - he's a great player and a great guy. But his neck is really causing him physical problems to the point where he really can't play. That's why I didn't include him. The other thing Watson should be doing is having a frank conversation with Kucher and Kucher's doc right about now.
 
Just for the record, this is the second major this year in which Tom Watson finished better than Tiger. Granted, that's a long list of names but it further undercuts including Tiger. Woods should just do the right thing and excuse himself from playing.
 
Tiger actually gets along with most of the guys on tour...its a lot better than it used to be. Looking at the team, you could definitely pair him with Furyk/Spieth/Kuchar (if healthy), as well as Stricker if he was a pick. From that standpoint, actually gives you more flexibility than Phil, who will almost definitely play with either Rickie or Keegan every time out.

If Tiger is healthy, I think he will be on the team.
 
cville deac said:
Watson said those things because he has to say those things. Doesn't mean he believes it. But he may be a better chemistry guy than he used to be. I can buy that. But you still only have a couple of guys you can pair with him on the 1st 2 days - only Furyk and Spieth come to mind. And I think it was Curtis Strange who had the brilliant idea of putting Tiger and Phil together, which is the golf equivalent of getting into a land war with Russia. And that last sentence about Tiger being a positive influence on the players is complete bs. Who, Tom, does Tiger have a very positive influence upon? Not Phil or any member of his posse, not Bubba, not Zach, and I doubt that he makes any difference either way with guys like Furyk or Walker. Maybe Spieth - that's prolly the list. But if Watson does leave this decision in Tiger's hands, that's just plain idiocy because Tiger may be self centered than Bieber and all the Kardashians combined. His ego is incapable of making an honest assessment.
GP, Dufner is sounding extremely doubtful at this point. Obviously, you'd take him if healthy - he's a great player and a great guy. But his neck is really causing him physical problems to the point where he really can't play. That's why I didn't include him. The other thing Watson should be doing is having a frank conversation with Kucher and Kucher's doc right about now.
Click to expand...

Boo, for no details on Zach being forced to watch porn.

I'm guessing Watson has had numerous conversations with recent RC coaches and players who were locks re: Tiger. Most interviews I have seen with Watson, he is pretty damn candid. The fact he included the word "recently" implies that Tiger wasn't good in the locker room before, is an example of his candor IMO. I could see him being a positive influence on the players GP mentioned, and he could take the media spotlight off certain people like Bubba who is an international incident waiting to happen based on last week and his trip to France a few years ago. But I love Tom W. so I am defending him for still considering Tiger. I don't think Tiger should be picked though.

After yesterday, I am excited about Phil being the leader of the US team. Think the guys will respond to him.
 
Try LK or 1 of the golf insiders for the more complete Zach and Tiger pron story.

I have nothing against Watson and like him as well. But even if Tiger is better in the locker room these days, the fact remains that he's injured and in poor form when he tries to play. If Watson wastes a captain's pick on Tiger, and Tiger either can't play or sucks, I'm willing to bet that there would be some serious resentment from his teammates. If I were on the team and that happened, it would tell me Watson wasn't serious about winning, and he cares more about avoiding stepping on some big toes. And the media isn't helping with most folks saying Tiger should be on the team. You'd expect that from ESPN, but I'd expect more from TGC. Anyone whose eyes are open can plainly see Tiger has no business on that team this year.
 
The Tiger/Johnson story is easily found by a google search. Apparently it comes from Haney's book.
 
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