U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker has some tough decisions coming up fast and there’s no doubt he’ll keep an interested eye on this week’s Tour Championship.
Stricker has six decisions to make — who will be his personal picks for the U.S. team that will face off against Europe starting Sept. 24?
Collin Morikawa heads the automatic qualifiers followed by Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay in that order. Cantlay’s win last Sunday jumped him into the “automatic” category.
Tony Finau, Olympic Gold Medalist Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth are pretty good bets, virtual locks, to be captain’s picks.
But then comes the last three.
Up for consideration: Patrick Reed, Harris English, Webb Simpson, Daniel Berger, Scottie Scheffler, Kevin Kisner and PGA champ Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson’s a longshot, he’s already told Stricker he’d like to be a Vice Captain if not selected.
Reed’s the tough one. Reed missed the Wyndham with a bum ankle and missed both the playoffs events with double-pneumonia. He has a starting time for Thursday — he’s in the first pairing off at East Lake, 11:40 a.m. with Billy Horschel, who is also a longshot for a captain’s pick. Reed confirmed Tuesday he’s on his way and will be teeing it up with Billy in the first twosome off on Thursday.
With no recent baseline, everyone’s wondering how Reed will play this week. He’s had success at East Lake the past two years (top 10s) . Will be interesting to see how the long layoff affects his play.
English has been really solid and is so very consistent — you’d think he’ll get the call. But it gets tough after that. Simpson has a lot of experience but didn’t make the Tour Championship. For easy watching, Scheffler and Berger are paired together on Thursday — they go off at noon at East Lake.
Kisner? Solid player. Mickelson? What’s he done lately?
How about this — Abraham Ancer has dual citizenship — Mexico AND the United States — we say claim him on behalf of his U.S. citizenship.
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Anyway, Stricker’s picks come on Monday.
Stay tuned.
Amateur History: Ellen Port Wins Men’s Metro Am Title in St. Louis:
Talk about a lady who has game! Ellen Port made history last week, becoming the first woman to win the Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship. The two-day championship was played at Sunset Country Club, Port’s home course outside St. Louis.
Port, a seven-time USGA champion and 16-time Metropolitan Women’s Amateur champion, will now have her name etched on the George F. Meyer trophy.
“That’s a beautiful trophy, and like I said in my speech, that trophy doesn’t know if it’s a man or a woman holding it, it just knows it’s someone who loves golf,” Port said. “I know that Rick Meyer’s father who donated it would be tickled because I love this game and the people who play it.”
Playing from the same tees as the men, the Sunset member shot even par during the first round and was five shots back of the lead heading into the final round. Port followed that up by shooting the low round of the day on Wednesday, a bogey-free 5-under 67, to make a playoff for the championship.
Port and Joe Malench went into a playoff that lasted four holes (10-13-14-15). The pair parred the first four holes, which brought the playoff to the long par 3 15th. Port went first and knocked it 20 feet above the hole. Malench went to the right of the green and needed a good chip to save par.
He hit it within ten feet and the door was open for Port to win it. She stood over it and hit the ball dead center of the cup, hands in the air, to win the championship.
Impressive, VERY impressive!
3 Comments
baxter cepeda
For me Phil is in. Horses for courses. Whistling straits has a lot of similarities to Kiawah. He’s a great leader. Great for chemistry. Phil absolutely belongs.
Reed is in as well if he shows health and form at East Lake. The man made the tour championship without playing the first two silly quadruple point playoff events. And he is still 7-3-2 in the Ryder cup. Also the man puts on a show like few can. Whether you think the Ryder cup is serious stuff or just an exhibition, Reed belongs.
The final pick is the tough one for me. Simpson is getting mentioned a lot but he is 4-4-1 in 3 Ryder Cup appearances the US lost …so nothing to get excited about. In fact it’s a big yawn.
It’s going to be tough to keep Berger out but another yawn type player may do just that in Harris English. The Bulldog has done what he needed to do in becoming more of a bulldog; which btw is one of the first big time schools to have already expressed serious interest in a young lady going to the upcoming first tee open at pebble beach.
Tom Edrington
I think you’re the only person I’ve heard from who thinks Phil is in, I don’t think Phil thinks he’s in because he’s already volunteered to be a Vice Captain…
baxter cepeda
Unfortunately it is looking bad for Phil.
“For me”Meant what I would do this time; not what I think Steve will do. Sorry I should have been more clear.
With Phil I’m still at: so your saying there’s a chance.
I really do think Phil should be in. And I’m still hoping he will. I think he could be the difference maker.
Aside from the well documented intangibles Phil brings, the major he won this year, his 6th, a Ryder Cup record which includes a winning singles record (8-6-1) and a solid .500 4 ball record (8-8-2), The most notable argument for Phil is the horses for courses one.
Whistling straits is a windy course with difficult green complexes…right up Phils alley. There’s a lot of reasons Phil won the pga this year, the same reasons he could do great on this course.
Mickelsons record in the 3 pga championships at Whistling Straits:
6th in 2004, 2 back of Vijay.
12th in 2010 5 back of Kaymer.
18th in 2015 when Day hit his peak.
That’s a Great record. But The experience alone is notable. So I’m just saying there should be a chance.