Wouldn’t want Steve Stricker’s job, no, no way, good luck Stricksie — 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup captain — aka Director Of Divas.
Hal Sutton had Tiger and Phil, Tom Watson had Phil, Jim Furyk had Furyk’s French Folly — aka The Giant Patrick Reed Bitching Meltdown.
Yes, that 2018 nightmare of a week saw Furyk’s lads buried — 17 1/2 to 10 1/2 with Reed playing antagonist perfectly — griping about not playing with Jordan Spieth, complaining about having to partner with Tiger Woods. That wasn’t all. Reed played quite poorly the first two days then complained that he sat out two matches.
Which brings us to this 2021 version of the battle between the U.S. and Europe. First ball in the air in 17 days, they’ll be on site to get familiar with Whistling Straits earlier that week — which means not much time before we see what sort of drama might transpire up in Wisconsin.
Your typical Ryder Cup captain has the PGA Championship on his resume. The PGA Of America likes that. Furyk didn’t own one but is a major champion (U.S. Open). Stricker might be the first captain without a major championship on his resume — but hey, that’s okay, he’s from ‘Sconsin and the Cheese Heads will turn out in mass to support one of their own.
The American team is loaded — Dustin Johnson — world’s No. 2, Collin Morikawa — world’s No. 3, FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay — world’s No. 4 (no world ranking points for handicap tournament wins!), Justin Thomas — world No. 6, Bryson DeChambeau — world No. 7 and Brooks Koepka (maybe) — world’s No. 10.
Stricker went live on The Golf Channel Wednesday morning to announce his six captain’s picks. And Stricker didn’t waste any time, rattling off (in order): Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffel, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth as his six choices.
Somewhere, a no-doubt stunned Patrick Reed was perhaps muttering all sorts of expletives.
Perhaps Stricker realized that Reed can be a royal pain in a captain’s behind. Also, it wasn’t Stricker alone making those picks, he cited input from the “Automatic Six,” along with his vice captains and some sort of secret scouts.
With that out of the way, here’s where things get tough for Captain Stricksie.
Dustin Johnson had an off year. His 12-year winning streak on the PGA Tour came to an quiet end last week. Putting’s an issue, tee shots as well. Add the fact that his “significant other” aka Paulina Gretzky, had been hanging out recently with Vera Wang, wedding dress designer to the stars.
Collin Morikawa won the regular season FedEx points race but basically vanished during the playoffs and has been recovering from a back injury — how’s that for bad timing?
Koepka withdrew last Saturday from the Tour Championship. Injured left wrist — another headache for Captain Stricksie.
Then there’s Bryson — que the music “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?” (Sounds of Music). Who do you pair with Bryson? Better draw straws for that one.
J.T.’s been inconsistent — good and bad — fighting the putter — perfect timing, right?
The only automatic guy without issues is Cantlay. You can put anyone with him.
Finau, Schauffele and Spieth were oh-so obvious. Now how about English, Berger and Scheffler? English, no controversy there. Berger was 12th on the points list, not that much of a surprise. Scheffler is the shocker. Yeah, he’s long, can be exciting but can get erratic under pressure.
Somewhere Kevin Na is grimacing after his magnificent performance at the Tour Championship. Sorry Kevin, we were all for you.
In all, Stricker will have six first-timers on his team.
With those six captain’s picks and the “Automatic Six” Stricker has his hands full. Truth be known, these guys all stay pretty much to themselves — it’s a product of big money and success. Private aviation, a tight circle of family, caddie, swing coach and trainer. They don’t hang out with one another. They stay often in private residences with their inner circle around them.
The concept of “team” is a foreign notion among the PGA Tour’s elite.
Stricksie also has to manage that “Good Guy” reputation of his. Guys in that American team room can turn on a “Good Guy” in a heartbeat.
There are more questions than answers when it comes to this U.S. team.
So looking forward, we wonder — will it be “The Win In Wisconsin” or “The Whiff At Whistling Straits?”
There’s really no way to predict.
10 Comments
baxter cepeda
This could change things for me with stricks. Not taking Reed makes the hair in the back of my neck stand out. This already puts sticks on the hot seat 17 days out. Exciting is not the word I think of with Scottie …or Harris.
But like Tom says forget the 6 picks; 5 of the automatic qualifiers have issues one way or another.
And the 6th auto guy just climbed the pga tours proverbial Mount Everest by winning the whole thing so fatigue/letdown is very possible and therefore in 17 days it’s not likely we see the same form from Patrick Cantlay.
All this before the typical stuff the US deals with against Europe. They are a stringer team. The American guys see each other plenty and are like a Jordan drive are friendly enough…most of the time. Europe just masters chemistry and breathes fire at the Ryder cup, which makes it hard for the Us to keep up; and we are only making it harder leaving our best fire breathers at home.
Its early and never say never but After this first glance the prediction here is yet another euro win. If that happens I will be the first to remind our captain he left captain America and the second greatest player since the 90s —months after winning a 6th major— sitting on the dock.
Go USA!
Tom Edrington
When Stricker explained that the “automatic six” along with the vice captains and some sort of scouts had a lot of input, understandable that Reed was left off…..is he even healthy enough to play 36 holes a day for two days? I think the health issue had a factor and his poor play over the past few months…..I”m also leery of that Koepka wrist injury…..also I think they passed on Kevin Na because he’s not “one of the guys”…..Scottie Scheffler didn’t win for a reason…..under pressure his miss goes pretty far left and he doesn’t make the critical putts (the formula for previous US losses); I love underdogs which usually puts me admiring the Europeans and having spent quality time in Scotland, I appreciate the Europeans.
baxter cepeda
I appreciate them also. They leave egos at the door. More importantly they know how to pick a team. They don’t pick the everyday studs whom become donkeys when it matters most. Sheffler is an imposing fella but has literally never won on tour. Na on the other hand despite his lack of distance, which was the out given for not choosing him has won since Scottie has been on tour.
English as I’ve said has gotten more fiery, which is actually a good thing for the Ryder cup. Reed has it. Even Phil has it.
The concern for this US team is that it was too chalky chosen to avoid drama.
When herb brooks picked his miracle on ice team he didn’t ask anyone what they thought, much less the players. Analytics meant nothing to anyone then, but it’s hard to believe brooks would care now. Brooks wasn’t scared to pick passionate guys. Stricks is kinda doing the opposite of all that; picking quite sleepy guys.
We can go back and forth about a ton of guys but Reed belonged on the team regardless of anything. If no one else Reed could have been paired with Bryson and made an extremely formidable, in your face pairing.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: At the end of the day, it was probably a question as to whether Reed could play 36 holes a day…..I think his performance (lack thereof) in the last Ryder Cup was an issue along with his shenanigans……sadly, Captain America has demoted himself to Private America.
baxter cepeda
Good line. He could handle it. I think Steve is just scared of strong personalities. He picked a bunch of quiet guys. We will see if that plan works or backfires. GC was very supportive but both PTI stars said Steve opens himself to criticism if his picks aren’t strong.
Tom Edrington
The way it sounds to me, it was pick by committee — the “automatic six” had major input as did the vice captains and the “secret talent scouts” whoever the heck they were. Given the rankings of the US players, if they don’t win easily, it’s all on them!
baxter cepeda
I’ll be happy with a narrow win at this point. I get no one wants to blame Steve for anything, because he is sick a nice man, but if the US come out as sleepy as they look, it won’t matter if he consulted everyone on earth, absolutely will be on him.
Tom Edrington
The captain doesn’t miss any putts, doesn’t hit any wayward drives and has no control over how good or bad his guys might play — that’s on the players — except for Bryson, who has never accepted any accountability for a bad shot, it’s always some sort of chasm in the universe that threw off his calculations.
baxter cepeda
This Captain left captain America off the team.
And lefty.
And Na with his 5 pga tour wins.
Meanwhile Sheffler has nan.
Captains decisions are very important. Often it comes down to the players hitting the shots but sometimes it is lost in the captains room. U know the history so I won’t elaborate.
Tom Edrington
Decision makers in this go-round: Stricker, vice captains, “secret scouts”…..no one know who those scouts are; But I would have left Reed off as well, bad behavior and anti-team display at last Ryder Cup…..there should be consequences for bad behavior….Reed thinks he “entitled” looking at his performance over the four months coming in — pretty miserable. I preferred Na over Scheffler.