PGA 'O America Sounds Ready To Blow Up Its Ryder Rules

In separate conversations with Rex Hoggard of GolfChannel.com and Mark Lamport-Stokes of Reuters, PGA of America President Ted Bishop wisely admitted to the organization already re-thinking their approach to the Ryder Cup after a series of hiccups that may have tainted the USA experience this year, starting with a premature points cut-off, maybe premature captain's picks and Captain Tom Watson's old-school approach.

Interestingly, the man most mentioned as wanting to at least have a say in the captaincy structure going forward, Paul Azinger, didn't return a call when Bishop phoned before Watson was picked.

From Hoggard's report:

Before that, Bishop said he spoke with many former captains, including Davis Love III, Corey Pavin and Lanny Wadkins. He even reached out to Paul Azinger, the last winning American captain in 2008, but “never heard back from him.”

It also sounds like the PGA's desire to have a former major winner pilot the team is no longer a requirement.

“That decision will be made by someone other than me, but at this point the slate is totally clear. Why wouldn’t you consider him?” Bishop said. “A Ryder Cup captain doesn’t have to be a major champion. We have to get over that. We have to look for guys who are not afraid to roll their sleeves up and take a blue collar approach like McGinley did and Azinger did.”

Before Bishop went back to work on Tuesday afternoon, he offered one final thought that seemed apropos considering the criticism Watson and the PGA has received in the aftermath of last week’s blowout.

“I think the PGA of America is willing to change from a certain stand point,” he said. “We are willing to try to put all the appropriate pieces into place to collectively make a good decision going forward.”

From Lamport-Stokes we learn Bishop's view that the captain's picks might need to move to after the Tour Championship and his take on Mickelson's viewpoint about captains, which, at least publicly, isn't quite as shocked as you might expect.

"You know what, that was no surprise to me because I had a very similar conversation with Phil when we played together in the pro-am at the Scottish Open back in July at Royal Aberdeen.

"I had asked Phil a question about his perception of the Ryder Cup and he gave me the same answer that he gave on Sunday night, so it's clear to me that he feels very strongly about that."

Bishop, whose PGA of America organization represents more than 27,000 golf professionals, felt Mickelson's biggest mistake was not to speak out earlier, and in private with Watson.

"It would have been nice if he had maybe conveyed those feelings to Tom before the Ryder Cup rather than after the Ryder Cup," said Bishop. "And I wish he wouldn't have done it in that venue on Sunday night, but it is what it is.

Tim Rosaforte discusses what Mickelson’s message to the PGA of America and Tom Watson and captures some of the emotions involved for the various folks and also clarifies why Mickelson was not on the team jet (well, something about business meetings which is jargon for, I don't want to be on the same plane with a bunch of people I shouldn't have to fly to the Ryder Cup with).