There’s a lot more at stake than just big money and prestige in this final major championship of the year.
The 100th PGA Championship could have a lot to do with the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team. This is the final event as far as automatic qualifying is concerned and showings here could greatly influence Captain Jim Furyk’s four selections outside the eight automatic qualifiers.
Going into Bellerive, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed have totally locked up their spots. Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth are looking pretty good. Outside of those six, it gets iffy for the rest. Rickie Fowler sits at No. 7, Webb Simpson at No. 8 and they have no guarantees. Keep in mind there are now only eight automatic spots, a change from the old 10.
The guys after that can be concerned as well — Bryson DeChambeau (ninth), Phil Mickelson (10th), Xander Schauffele (11th) and Matt Kuchar (12th).
Then there’s the 50,000-pound elephant over in the corner — Tiger Woods. Woods is 20th in the standings and you have to wonder out loud if there’s any way Furyk can NOT make Woods a captain’s pick?
Can’t you just hear the PGA of America (they run the U.S. side of the Ryder Cup) whispering in Furyk’s ear: “The ratings Jim, the ratings!” Adding Woods to the U.S. side would indeed drive the ratings off the charts. Only problem is that Woods looked old and tired the final two days at the WGC-Bridgestone, he’s playing this week in the heat and humidity in St. Louis then he’s committed to play in the first two events of the playoffs.
Come the last week in September, Woods could be totally out of gas. Still, they can pick and choose when and where to play him in the Ryder Cup competition.
If Woods shows any life at all this week and in his first two playoff events, you’d think it would be near impossible to leave him off the playing team. Last thing the networks want is Woods riding around in a golf cart with an ear plug in his left ear.
