Something hit a sour chord when we glanced over the group photo from the little Ryder Cup hopeful gathering that Jack and Barbara Nicklaus hosted last week at their home in Lost Tree Village.
There was Keegan Bradley and Brian Harman in the picture.
There was no Justin Thomas.
When you think about guys who probably won’t and probably shouldn’t be on that team, Bradley and Harman would fit the bill.
Bradley hasn’t been in contention in a tournament in so long that his mug should be on the side of milk cartons. Missing in action for the one-time major champion who hasn’t threatened to win anything in a long time.
Same for Harman, minus the major.
Thomas is one of the bright young stars of the PGA Tour and when you envision “Ryder Cup Hopeful,” he fits that bill to a tee.
Thomas didn’t make a big stink about it and it just goes to show what a quality young star-on-the-rise he is.
Ask Jordan Spieth if Justin Thomas should be on that team.
Right now, at this moment, the only “for certain” players on that team will be Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed.
Now they’ve put together this “Task Force” to try and come up with things that will help win “The Cup” back for the U.S.
Jack Nicklaus rolls his eyes when the conversation comes up.
The Jack Nicklaus one-man, best-ever Task Force would tell the team that they need to simply PLAY BETTER!
Doesn’t take a task force to figure that out.
And this U.S. team needs an infusion of new, hungry, talented young stars — like Thomas.
So perhaps, maybe, Thomas will take that “No Soup For You At Jack’s House” moment and use it as motivation to play his way onto the team.
Sounds like a solid plan.
