Phil Mickelson spilled the beans on Sunday after his final round at the BMW.
“We know who is going to be playing with who. We have a game plan.”
So said Philly Mick and what he said implied that this bally-hooed Captain’s Pick process was already pre-determined. Didn’t matter how guys are playing after the first two rounds of the playoffs. Simply didn’t matter. The decision was made weeks ago, behind closed doors. Had to be if they already know who is playing with who. They had to know who would be playing. Right?
After all, Lefty is the ultimate King Of Insider Information, is he not? You know it, we all know it, the SEC knows it.
So if this process was pre-determined, wink, wink, you know, kinda like professional wrestling matches, then why even have this big rigamarole?
Blame it on the Task Force concept. Blame it on Love, blame it on Tiger Woods, blame it on business as usual because this is apparently what we are getting this latest Ryder Cup go-round.
Finally, drum roll please, Love got down to business Monday morning in Chaska.
“Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes, Matt Kuchar,” were the three names that rolled off Love’s tongue.
There was no Bubba Watson.
Fowler was the surprise, the first name announced and maybe the most controversial.
“I don’t see how you can pick him (Fowler) this year,” said David Duval a few hours before Love made his picks public.
Rickie Fowler over Bubba Watson? Seriously?
Well, maybe, just maybe Bubba’s gonna be the 12th man. Bet here is that he will be. Can they really leave the seventh-ranked player in the world off the team and put Fowler in there already?
Holmes was more than deserving. He was right there in the final points standings, has played well the past few weeks and he had a winning record in 2008, the last time he played on a U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Kuchar? Well, if you want steady, you got steady, Steady Eddie. That’s Kooch. Won’t scare anyone but won’t hit any devil balls in the alternate shot format.
The big surprise was Fowler over Watson.
Fowler did not even make it to the FedEx Cup finals. He fell to the 31st spot so he was sent packing after the BMW. Talk about underachieving and over-ranked. How can a guy be in the world’s top 10, allegedly, and not even make the top 30 on his own tour?
Sounds like someone is not playing very well.
What we saw on Monday was no thinking outside the box. Love and the rest of his henchmen — Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker and Eldrick Woods, the vice-captains, went with very conventional thinking.
Two weeks ago Duval declared Furyk, “a lock” to be on the team. Furyk didn’t make it to the BMW, he has an iffy record in the Ryder Cup and perhaps Furyk simply told the rest it was time to move on.
Which brings us back to Bubba, who will be at the Tour Championship.
You gotta figure after these picks, Watson will be the last man in.
All he has to do is play 72 holes at East Lake.
“We’ve got a long two weeks ahead of us,” Love said of the last pick.
Really?
Mickelson already told us “we know who is going to play with who.”
Yeah, the fix is in.
They knew weeks ago.
No drama needed. This is like a fraternity rush.
They know who’s in. They knew weeks ago.
Phil pretty much told us so.
10 Comments
hrfdez
Well, this is my ranking,
J.B. Holmes- Good pick.
Kuchar- So, so, pick.
Fowler- Boneheaded pick! They guy can’t even qualify for the Tour Championship, come on!!!!
As much as I think Watson doesn’t belong in the Ryder Cup, he would have made more sense than Fowler.
This shows the Ryder Cup is not about competition but a cash cow for the PGA and the R&A. A popularity contest.
I won’t be watching this commercial endeavor, what a shame!
Very nice article Tom.
Tom Edrington
Oh, don’t fret, Bubba IS ON THE TEAM…….they had to pick Rickie first because he didn’t make the final 30. They’ll tell us Bubba played well enough to warrant the pick…that and they are simply NOT going to leave the 7th ranked player in the OWGR off the team……this roster was put together months ago…..Phil was nice enough to blab about it…..as we indicated, Phil is the KING of insider info!!
hrfdez
Yes, Phil was kind enough to ruin it, I’m not thrilled about it. I don’t like Bubba, I think he is selfish and a big whiner. I don’t understand why not take a chance with new blood?
Oh well, Davis Love has demonstrated that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a leader. He likes the attention and the title, but not the responsibilities.
I predict a European win, even with all the new names they have on their squad. One thing the Europeans know well: TEAM!
Tom Edrington
That’s why I thought it was totally ridiculous when they created this “Task Force” to come up with a way to win the Cup……all they have to do is make more putts and don’t choke — simple as that.
hrfdez
I guess there is always the next cup, this one? I’m done with it.
Tom Edrington
Maybe we can apply to be on the next Task Force if they need one!
hrfdez
I believe we could not be any worst.
Tom Edrington
Let’s see if the guys can bring out their best for this, they’ll have the crowds on their side, if that can’t inspire them to play their best golf, nothing can.
hrfdez
I’m confused. I just read Kostis column on Golf Magazine. Basically he praises the new process and thinks the so called task force was a success. Claims is the best thing to happen to the Ryder Cup in decades, lol…..
On the other hand, this morning I heard Davis Love complain about the process on PGA radio. He didn’t like waiting for the last pick and stated that the process need it to be tweaked.
Excuse me? Davis Love is the freaking Captain and he had several years to come up with a workable system. If this is not incompetency at the highest levels, I don’t know what it is.
This is incredible and pathetic!
Oh, and Phil Mickleson complaining about the Fall Series because no big names are playing them, shows how stupid he is. Maybe he needs to play them so they can be more prestigious and points can be collected.
Tom Edrington
Well, Phil said he wants to play with Tiger next month at the Safeway, probably because he knows Tiger will be so incredibly rusty that Phil would take great joy in beating him. Problem is a small event like that will not put its two biggest names on the same side of the draw. Better for the folks who show up to watch. As for Love III, one of the greatest lines I ever heard was from a friend of mine. I hadn’t heard from him in a week or so and I left a message. He called back and I said “Where ‘ya been?” He proceeded to tell me: “Somewhere Davis Love will never have to go — the cardiologist!” Yep, Davis Love III, huge talent, no heart.