Lucky Him! Tom Watson's Ryder Cup Dilemma(s)

Poor Paul McGinley, with nearly everyone on his team playing well and the next eight or so on the likely Captain's picks list peaking as the European Ryder Cup squad's August 31st points cut off approaches. You really feel for the man!

And then there is the mess Tom Watson faces as Dave Shedloski outlines in this Loop post. Note that no one making the U.S.A. team on points has won a PGA Tour event since Patrick Reed at the WGC Cadillac in March Matt Kuchar at Hilton Head in April. And Captain Watson, 64, beat possible picks Woods, Bradley and Snedeker in round one at Valhalla.

From Shedloski:

Here's a snapshot of the rest of the current U.S. team:
    •    Bubba Watson: Two wins, including the Masters, but missed the cut in last two majors.
    •    Jimmy Walker: FedExCup leader with three wins, but none since Pebble Beach and this will be his first Ryder Cup.
    •    Jim Furyk: Enjoying solid season, but still winless in 2014.
    •    Rickie Fowler: Only player with three top-5s in majors, but also no victories.
    •    Jordan Spieth: No sophomore slump, but also no trophies for 2013 Rookie of the Year.
    •    Patrick Reed: Cooled off considerably since his WGC-Cadillac triumph.
    •    Jason Dufner: PGA champion slipping because of neck injury that required cortisone shots last week at WGC-Bridgestone. His withdrawal after 10 holes at Valhalla is another unfortunate development.
    •    Zach Johnson: Except for runner-up at John Deere, has been quiet since he won year's first event, the

Captain Watson and assistant captain Steve Stricker were asked about the team after the Kuchar and Dufner WD's at Valhalla. Flies were big, metaphorically.

From an unbylined Sky report:

"We're falling like flies," Watson said. "We really are.

"There's time. What's going to happen between now and then is anybody's guess. I have to take the information I have, process it and see what comes out."

Watson named Steve Stricker as one of his assistant captains earlier this week, but that might have to change as he could yet be needed as a wildcard pick, with Watson so short of experience.

And Stricker is just as concerned about the injuries to have struck potential United States picks.
He added: "All these guys are dropping like flies on our team and it is a bit scary."

Jack: Rory Can Win 15 Or 20 Majors

Appearing on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" Wednesday, Jack Nicklaus said he thinks Rory McIlroy can win 15 or 20 majors. He's raised the bar on his Rory praise in light of a win at The Open, and why not?

Bob Harig reports:

"I think Rory is an unbelievable talent," Nicklaus said. "I love his swing, I love his rhythm, I love his moxie. He's got a little swagger there, it's a little bit cocky but not offensive. I like that. I like the self-confidence in a young man. He's got an unbelievable amount of speed in his golf swing, he obviously hits the ball a heck of a long way. And he hits in there consistently and how he controls it.

"It depends on what he feels his priorities are, and that's his call. I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. But you just don't know what the guy's priorities are going to be in life 10 years from now."

The clip.

Olympics Schedule Mess: 2016 PGA Moves To July

The July 25-31, 2016 PGA at Baltusrol is now official, clearing golf of one hurdle related to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

For Immediate Release:

The 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, will be held the week of July 25-31, 2016, as the PGA of America marks its centennial year by joining the golf world in preparing for the sport’s return to the Olympic Games.
 
The PGA Championship, one of golf’s four major championships, will be played in July for the first time since 1968. The Championship, with the exception of 1971, has been conducted in August every year beginning in 1969.
 
Baltusrol Golf Club, home of many of the most memorable U.S. major championships, was selected in 2008 as the site of the 98th PGA Championship. The Summer Olympics, scheduled for Aug. 5-21, will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The men and women golf competitors in the 2016 Summer Olympics will be determined by the Official World Golf Rankings as of July 11, 2016.
 
“The PGA of America is excited for what the year 2016 means for our Association and the game of golf. It promises to be a historic season on many levels,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. “We celebrate our centennial; our PGA Championship is being hosted on one of the greatest courses in America and the Olympic Games cap the summer by welcoming back golf as an official sport. We believe that moving up the PGA Championship date that year is a win-win for our viewing audience, our spectators as well as for what is likely to be once again the strongest field in golf.”