"And you thought Colin Montgomerie had a tough decision eight days ago."
That's what Helen Ross says about Captain Corey Pavin's big Ryder Cup decision, due Tuesday from the New York Stock Exchange at 10:30 EDT (why not go to the home of American gambling for what figures to be a massive roll of the dice).
Beyond Woods, though, Pavin has some interesting decisions. With four rookies among his eight automatic qualifiers, veterans like Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson likely appear very attractive. Cink, who has tied for 18th, 15th and 18th (at the Deutsche Bank Championship) in his last three starts is bidding to play on his fifth Ryder Cup.
"I certainly have to claim experience as one of my pro-Stewart Cink factors," the 2009 British Open champion said. "... I'm leaning on experience. ... "I'm honored to be included in the mix. Hopefully, Corey will call and tell me I need to get measured."
Measured? No, no, this year's uni's are right out of the package and off the rack. Times are lean at the PGA.
Rex Hoggard imagines what Captain Pavin's voicemail is sounding like on the eve of the announcement.
John Huggan filed this column with Curtis Strange suggesting that stats and other minute details are not on Pavin's mind.
"This picking business isn't as complicated as everybody thinks, even if you can make it as complicated as you want," continues Strange, who played in five Ryder Cups, compiling a record of six wins, 12 losses and two halves. "When I was captain, (1997) Tom Kite told me he had all the statistics. And he did. He had the numbers on what happened when a guy played his first match, how he did in his second outing and how guys tend to do when they play all four times before the singles. And so on. I told him not to waste my fax paper. I didn't want any of that crap. It would have made no difference to me.
"Of course, that was the way Tom played golf. And we both ended up losing as captains. So who was right and who was wrong?"
Meanwhile, Steve Elling lays out a case against a knee-jerk pick of Charley Hoffman as Paul Azinger tells Alex Miceli that Deutsche Bank winner Hoffman is a "lock" to make the team.
Wait, has Charley been going to a lot of Tour bible study meetings lately? Did I miss a memo?
Monday, September 6, 2010 at 08:02 PM
Reader Comments (26)
Cink's got nothing but experience on his side, lucky for him there are so many rookies already, otherwise he'd have no shot. Tiger and Zach are the only obvious locks to me. Watney probably deserves it, except he'd be yet another rookie and his final round blowup in the PGA is probably fresh on Pavin's mind. Van Pelt, Crane and Holmes deserve serious consideration, but hardly offer excitement. Nobody else even earns a mention.
Monty had a tough decision because there were so many great players to choose from. Pavin has a tough decision because he has to choose from so many mediocre players that have done very little to deserve a spot.
Better question, who will Tiger have on his arm? Perhaps he brings 2 or 3 skags, that would be cool ...
I think Holmes will make it. Or should make it. Even with his rumored, uhh, hygiene issues.
Man, even Jay Leno could come up with a few jokes from that.
digsouth
Bang on! That Curtis can really come up with some winner's. Geoff's posted quote from CS says it all.
I was there during his meltdown at Oak Hill. in '95..choke city, like a lot of others on our team that year.
Couldn't agree more, Holmes should be a pick for sure. Many people are quick to forget he was tough as nails in his first Ryder Cup, hitting a (ridiculous) SW into Valhalla's 17th (most guys were hitting hybrids) and helped the U.S. close out the Europeans on Sunday with that shot. He's long, he's putting great and he's had very solid season (missed two cuts, I believe). I don't care if the doesn't make it either, but I am very surprised he isn't on most lists I've been seeing for potential selections -- especially given the fact that he played as good as anyone on the LAST Ryder Cup team. (btw. What is Cink's Ryder Cup record anyway? Everyone says experience, but is his experience that great? Just wondering). Holmes also has a history of just being gritty and tough. He's the kind of player who just doesn't give a flip. He qualified for the Tour in his first Q-school outing like it was nothing. He's always been a match player. Having said all of that, I don't expect Pavin to select him. But he better damn well pick Tiger!
What a joke.
Just announce the damn choices and be done with it.
Shouldn't you be picking Zach Johnson?
"After weeks of intensive market-testing and opinion polling, we believe that these four players provide us with the maximum cross-demographic market exposure for merchandising, monetization and worldwide brand-platform visibility. Hopefully, they will win some of their matches."
lol.
http://wp.me/pVda6-5S