Padraig's Ryder Cup Selection A Triumph Of Branding!

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I poured through most of the reactions to Monty's Ryder Cup selections of Harrington, Donald and Molinari and a theme developed: Padraig is a nice, famous, legendary guy who has been stinking it up lately; Paul Casey was arrogant for sticking to an American-based schedule.

No one is refuting that Monty had a brutal predicament, one apparently made more complicated by a young, former U.S. Amateur-winning Italian capturing his second tournament of the year on the final weekend of Ryder Cup qualifying at the very course where the captain asked players to show up. Not sure what was complicated about Molinari's selection but I'm guessing it has to do with the King's English not being his first and only language.

When asked about selecting Harrington, Monty said:

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Very good. In that order, as I mentioned, Pádraig Harrington, three major championships in the last three years; stature of Pádraig Harrington, and someone that we feel that nobody in match-play golf wants to play; a great competitor, and someone that will bring everything to the team that we know about European golf.

He has brand presence! A brand image more platformable than Casey!That will be the same justification for selecting Tiger on September 7th, but in Pavin's case, the alternatives are no Casey, Rose, Karlsson or any of the other quality players left off the team.

So sit back and watch the brand image theme make its way to the press roundups:

Derek Lawrenson writes of Casey:

But the inescapable conclusion is that the Englishman, who was a guest at Monty's wedding two years ago, has paid the price for what was seen in Europe as an unpalatable arrogant streak.

By failing to play in the Czech Open last week, and electing to compete in America at the FedEx Cup instead, Casey fell out of the automatic places. At Gleneagles came the final indignity as the stupendous manner of Molinari's win knocked him out of the wild card frame as well.

Let's hope Casey learns his lesson, for he is a prodigious talent. There are not 12 better players in Europe, but there are 12 with a better team ethic and appreciation of what a privilege it is to represent the continent.

Mark Reason has this to say:

The captain said: "Padraig Harrington has won three major championships in the last three years, has stature and is a man we feel that nobody in matchplay golf wants to play."

That statement was an insult to Casey's intelligence. Pat Perez and Jeev Milkha Singh have beaten Harrington in the first round of the last two Accenture Matchplay tournaments – Casey was runner-up both times– and Chad Campbell and Scott Verplank have dusted him in the singles at the past two Ryder Cups.

Iain Carter also noted the sentiments of the assistant Captains with regard to Casey's attitude, even though Padraig took the same approach to playing in Europe this year.

Casey, the world number nine, will feel bitterly disappointed to miss out and he has paid a heavy price for putting the FedEx Cup before the Ryder Cup.

That famed European team spirit is so crucial and his apparent indifference through the summer seriously undermined his claims in the eyes of many of the continent's stalwarts; figures like vice captains Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn.

They were fully involved in the discussions with the captain and his selections send a clear message that if you are going to be an American-based European you better play yourself into the side, because there are no guarantees if you don't.

Lawrence Donegan also believes the assistant captains were pivotal in the decision.

Montgomerie denied the decision to omit Casey and Rose had anything to do with the fact that they have spent the vast majority of the season playing on the PGA Tour in the US, although it is widely believed that it did. There was a strong feeling among the Scot's three vice-captains Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn – to whom he later added a fourth, Sergio García – that "loyalty" towards the European Tour should be a factor in team selection, albeit not the decisive one.

James Corrigan makes the case that Casey's omission was a mistake:

Casey's is a stunning absence. He is the first European or American player inside the world's top 10 to be denied a place in the biennial spectacular and many consider him the most talented of the stayaway quartet. He began this week just one spot outside the top-nine automatic qualifying positions but decided to skip the Johnnie Walker Championship for the non-counting but dollar-rich Barclays Championship. Apart from concerns about the selection process, the question will now inevitably be: did his disloyalty/arrogance cost him?

Doug Ferguson on the weird way Casey found out about the Cup snub.

Paul Casey had not checked his cell phone after his final round at The Barclays to see if he had made the Ryder Cup team for Europe.

He didn’t have to.

Casey was playing Sunday with Padraig Harrington, and on the seventh hole, he noticed Caroline Harrington giving the thumbs-up to her husband’s caddie.

“Caroline’s a great friend,” Casey said. “She would have said something to me if I had been picked. So at that point, I knew that I hadn’t. I was trying to keep my composure and put in a solid performance today.”

And this from another snubbee, Justin Rose:

Equally disappointed was Rose, who won the Memorial and the AT&T National at Aronimink earlier this summer. Rose played in his first Ryder Cup two years ago and went 3-1-0.

“I thought I had as good as shot as anyone,” Rose said. “With Paul Casey not picked as well, I think it’s a very interesting selection. I don’t think many people would have gone with those three.”

Jason Sobel on Casey's disappointment:

"I probably need time to take it in," he said. "Simple fact is, I'm not on the team. And I think Europe, they've got an unbelievable team. I wish them the best for the match, simple as that. I'm not going to stand here and sort of plead a case for why I should be on the team. It's done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn't make it."

If misery loves company, at least Casey can lean on Justin Rose, who also failed to make the team despite a pair of wins on the PGA Tour this season.

Steve Elling notes this about the selections and in particular, this on Harrington's record:

Harrington is a beloved figure throughout the game, and especially in the European team room, but his addition to the team could be just as popular in the Yanks' quarters. After all, Harrington is 0-7-2 in his past two Ryder Cups and has been blown out in the first round in the Accenture Match Play Championships in 2009-10. In fact, he and Westwood failed to win a match in 2008.

Phillip Reid thinks Monty was a magician for making his selections.

THE MAGICIAN had more rabbits in the hat than were required, but the three ‘wild cards’ – Pádraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari – which Europe’s captain Colin Montgomerie yesterday plucked out for the match against the United States at Celtic Manor on October 1st-3rd showed that he isn’t afraid to make the hard call in his efforts to regain the trophy.

In leaving out world number nine Paul Casey and Justin Rose, a two-time winner on the US Tour this season, Monty proved that he is very much his own man.

Ross McFarlane was not a fan of the Padraig selection.

A stunned McFarlane told Sky Sports News: "It beggars belief almost. That is a shock to me. It's the one name really that most people were casting aside.

"The form is not good enough, he hasn't committed himself to the European Tour at all, his schedule has been US-based, he hasn't supported the European Tour enough.

"Yet the team - Colin and his three vice-captains - have come up with Padraig Harrington who has a record that doesn't make great reading; he's won seven, lost 11 and halved three.

"What he's saying is 'how can you not have a three-time major champion in your team?' Well, you don't have him in your team if he's not playing well enough.

Brian Keough says Monty tipped his hand many months ago.

Experience is key in the Ryder Cup. So is putting. And Harrington fits the bill on both counts as far as Montgomerie is concerned.

The skipper warned us in May that he might need to add experience to the nine automatic qualifiers:

It will be very interesting to see who actually comes through and makes the team on merit and that allows me, as Corey said, for the makeup of my team to see who can fit in with that; whether I have a very experienced team and I can go with some rookies, or I have a very inexperienced team and have to some experience. All depends how the qualifying system works.

The ball is now in Harrington’s court following his jaded performances at The K Club and Valhalla, where he managed just two halved matches from nine starts.

Bob Harig says that the Molinari pick should quiet any conspiracy theorists:

Left off were two players with previous Ryder Cup experience, ranked among the top 22 in the world and probably just as deserving as the three who were chosen.

No. 9 in the world Paul Casey, who finished tied for third at the Open Championship, and No. 22 Justin Rose, winner against elite fields earlier this year on the PGA Tour at the Memorial and the AT&T National, were left out.

Some, such as Montgomerie, will say that just proves "the strength of European golf."

Others will point to conspiracies and friendships and politics, although the pick of Molinari on merit should go a long way toward diluting such thoughts.

Jim McCabe on the Ryder buzz at Ridgewood:

Ian Poulter, who paired with Rose to win two of three team matches at the 2008 Ryder Cup and is already on this year’s team, picked his words carefully and offered them forcefully.

“Everyone would make different picks, but everyone has to respect that the decision’s been made. The team’s the team,” Poulter said.

Clearly, Casey of the four players was the most subdued. Several times he paused in his answers to choke back his emotions and he seemed very careful to not step into a controversy.

“I probably need time to take it in,” Casey said after shooting 69 to tie for 12th at 277. “I’m not going to stand here and sort of plead my case for why I should be on the team. It’s done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn’t make it.”

Rose took the news to the first tee and never got it out of his mind. “Deflating,” he said. “It was hard to put it aside.”

And finally, the SI roundtable touched on the selections this way:

Shipnuck: Casey's injury kept him from amassing a lot of points and he still almost qualified. In some ways he's done more with less time.

Godich: The only thing I can figure is that with six rookies on the team, Monty was hesitant to take another, making Rose the odd man out. Naming Sergio an assistant captain was interesting as well. What, Monty thinks he needs somebody to get his team motivated? At least Sergio will be able to say he's the youngest assistant captain in Ryder Cup history.

Evans: I'm surprised that Sergio would take such a mediocre role.

Bamberger: I think bringing in Sergio was a genius move. He's a great Ryder Cup presence. Luke Donald I'm not so sure about. Monty went for a putter as other captains have. Example: Scott Verplank. But I think any American player would rather face Luke head-on than Paul Casey OR Justin Rose OR Bernhard Langer. OK, maybe not Langer.

Mills: I don't think Bernhard scares anyone anymore.

Bamberger: His kids, maybe.

Shipnuck: I hate to pick on you, Mike, but I like Langer over Paddy to fill the role of an older player with a long resume and lots of Cup experience. Bernhard has been the hottest player in golf all summer.

Let the bickering begin!

Pavin-Gray Bout Post Mortem; Minus Questions From Larry Merchant

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Come on, you'd love to hear Merch grill Captain Pavin about being told he was going down, or Gray try to turn the table on Merchant about who has smooched Don King's rear the most (and best).

But alas, Michael Bamberger took on the task of mopping up after last week's spat and offers a few new details.

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"I agree with Colin, actually. Let's stick to golf subjects here."

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Wow is this going to be fun with these two Captains!

Never thought I'd say this, but Jim Gray is coming out of this smelling like, well, something. From today's Ryder Cup captain news conference at Whistling Straits:

Q. I wonder if you can set us straight on the whole Tiger Woods thing. He said yesterday he would accept a pick. You were quoted on by the GOLF CHANNEL as saying he'll be on the team. There was a Tweet this morning that said you were misquoted. Probably more than me are confused. Could you run us through what's right and what's not?

COREY PAVIN: Let's straighten this out right now. I had a conversation with Jim Gray yesterday just outside the locker room near where we registered and he asked me a few questions and his interpretation of what I said is incorrect.

There's nobody that's promised any picks right now. It would be disrespectful to everybody that's trying to make the team. I've got quite a few people I'm looking at. I would not disrespect any of the players that are potential players on the team, and obviously there was a misinterpretation of what I said, and that is an incorrect quote.

I don't believe the report was about promised picks. The question he asked was, will you pick him if he doesn't make the team. Just saying...

Q. In regards to the misquoting, could you kind of go through with us exactly what you did say that he could have taken so out of context?

COREY PAVIN: Well, I don't want to get into specifics of the conversation really. But it certainly was something I did not say. Let's just keep it as simple as that. It was incorrect.

Now, onto our other issue of the day...

Q. Monty, I don't know if you're aware, your old friend, Feherty went on a nationally syndicated radio show yesterday and talked about the existence of a super injunction in the U.K. that would bar some potentially embarrassing personal photos, wonder if you want to confirm, comment, deny the existence of those and how it might affect your captaincy at all.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Yeah, obviously I listened to that radio show and I know a lot of you are having a lot of fun right now at my expense.

Oh Colin, Colin. You so misunderstand the media. We mostly talk about how to attain world peace and prosperity. But go on...

Let me clear this up, though, that I can categorically say that there's no injunction against the News of the World. I'm really not going to discuss this any -- any further. All I can say is categorically there is no injunction against the News of the World regarding anything.

I apologize for this, that you have to bring this up, but at the same time, no further -- no further comments from myself on that matter.

Well there you have it, no injunction against News of the World. That should put the entire thing to rest!

Now about your players...

Q. You said we might be having a bit of fun at your expense, but have you any concerns that your potential -- your team, might also be having some fun?

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: None at all. None at all. I've spoken to a number of the players, and there's no issue here at all. Nothing at all.

How did those conversations go, exactly?

Back to Corey about Tiger and their long awaited summit.

Q. Could you share any of that conversation? Were you clearing up what was said yesterday?

COREY PAVIN: We were just trying to figure out what we were going to have for dinner tonight and how our kids are growing up and how they are getting bigger.

Ah, there's a nice anecdote, a little sharing of your private conversation. Thanks. Any more?

Actually, you know what, the conversations that I have with all of my players or potential players are between us.

But you just...

It's very serious stuff sometimes that we with talk about and sometimes it isn't. Out of respect for privacy and how I go about doing things, it won't be discussed besides what we've been eating and things like that.

Now Monty, about that...

Q. There is an injunction against Paula Tadd; correct?

Whoa...where did that come from?

COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Excuse me, I'm here to talk about The Ryder Cup, okay. So please, no further questions on that or any other subject regarding anything -- or anything regarding my private life. By definition that, is private.

The dreaded non-denial denial.

COREY PAVIN: I agree with Colin, actually. Let's stick to golf subjects here. We'd appreciate that. Thank you.

So about that conversation with Jim Gray...

Feherty: Monty Has Filed An Injunction To Keep "Story out of the newspapers"

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Josh Hart reports the remarks made by CBS golf announcer David Feherty on Dan Patrick's radio show. You can listen the interview here.

Feherty, a golf commentator for CBS Sports added: "Apparently there's been an injunction filed to keep this story out of the newspapers."  

Host Dan Patrick, who seemed to know more, but wanted to say less, did add: "There are pictures..." and then began to talk about Monty's earlier divorce.

Brooks has more, saying that it involves photos and would explain a curious recent question from the Daily Mail about Monty quitting as captain.

That court fight allegedly involves embarrassing photos of Montgomerie obtained by the U.K. tabloid. In order to block the supposed photos from being published by NOTW, Montgomerie has allegedly obtained an injunction from London’s high court.