Dustin Johnson’s in.
So is Jordan Spieth.
Put Phil Mickelson on the list.
PGA champ Jimmy Walker is set.
Brooks Koepka will be the new face.
Those are the top guys in the Ryder Cup standings this week at The Barclays. They are numbers one-through-five, they’re in.
This is it, the last go-round and by late Sunday, the top eight, the elite eight, the automatic qualifiers will be set.
Numbers six-through-eight are up for grabs.
Patrick Reed is the first bubble guy — he’s No. 8 but after day one at Bethpage Black, he looks determined to be on the list come Sunday. He opened with a five-under par 66 to share the lead. He understands what’s at stake and the team needs him. He and Spieth were a good pairing last go-round.
Brand Snedeker sits at number six, he’s made a big move. He was outside the top eight, but is now inside, moving up from ninth. Still needs to do well at Bethpage to sew it up. He got off to a good start. A 70 is a good start, anything on that track under par is good.
Which brings us to Zach Johnson. He’s at No. 7 and his 73 on Thursday didn’t do him any favors. He needs to come back strong on Friday and through the weekend.
Which brings us to The Outsiders.
J.B. Holmes is No. 9. His year started good then he’s gone through a mini-slump but he looked strong on Friday. His 67 was the best afternoon round when winds came up and conditions turned much tougher for the later tee times. A strong finish by Holmes could boost him into the automatic qualifiers and knock Zach Johnson out.
Bubba Watson’s year has been pretty forgettable, to put it mildly. Forget mildly, Bubba’s pretty much stunk it up this season. Still, he’s No. 10 but that is real underachieving for a player of his talent level. He’s a world-class talent who has had a lackluster season. Watson shot 71 on Thursday.
That brings us to your Olympic Bronze Medalist. Is a Bronze Medal something to brag about? Maybe, maybe not but the 63 by Matt Kuchar on Sunday in Rio showed there’s still life in the old Kooch and he will be a captain’s pick because he is the supreme steady-Eddie and our Ryder Cup teams have not had enough of that.
Ah, then there’s Peter Pan. Yes, golf’s eternal teenager, the forever-young Rickie Fowler.
Rickie’s so damn serious about these playoffs and making the Ryder Cup team that he grew a mustache. No playoff beard? Not sure Fowler could grow one so the ‘stache will have to do. Rickie showed up on Thursday with an opening 67. Needs to follow that up, needs to show Captain Love that his putter is coming back. Rickie’s putter has been on vacation this season.
With Watson and Kuchar looking like sure captain’s picks, that leaves just two spots.
Love will make three of his four captain’s picks on September 11.
It will leave one spot dangling in front of a host of contenders.
Scott Piercy (13), Billy Haas (14), Jim Furyk (15) and Daniel Berger (16), will most likely be the players reaching for that spot that will be announced on September 25.
It will take two IMPRESSIVE weeks for one of them to make it.
You might be shouting “Fuyrk!!!” but remember, his Ryder Cup record stinks. But you can’t discount his performances the past month, wasn’t he the guy who shot 58?
Furyk posted 70 on Thursday and we know how determined he can be.
So as you watch the Barclays and the BMW next week, don’t forget the tournament within the playoffs.
Stay tuned.
2 Comments
hrfdez
I’m really nervous about tomorrow Captain’s picks. I hope not, but I have the feeling Captain Love is going to make some boneheaded picks.
He already displayed his lack of interest in the pick process, so I’m not sure he is that committed.
We will see tomorrow at 11:00 AM.
Tom Edrington
I’m waiting on the announcement to write today’s feature…….after hearing what Mickelson said, the beans have been spilled, sounds like Kuchar is the one sure lock…..David Duval had previously declared Furyk a lock, bet he goes Bubba and Ricky just because……business as usual, no imagination, no risk-taking, I think it’s a bigger risk to pick guys who are not playing very well….