Should T.W. be in the Ryder Cup squad?

[jvincent]

OK, I was bored and Excel is my friend.

Here's the ranking, based on Fedex Cup points per round played, for the US players not automatically qualified for the Ryder cup team. This should be a first order indicator for who has played better, on average, this year.

1. Anthony Kim
2. Ben Crane
3. Zach Johnson
4. Bo Van Pelt
5. JB Holmes
6. Corey Pavin (?!?!?)
7. Rickie Fowler
8. Bill Haas
9. Nick Watney
10. Ryan Palmer
11. Jason Bohn
12. Tiger Woods
13. Ryan Moore
14. Sean O'Hair
15. Scott Verplank
16. Vaughn Taylor
17. Ricky Barnes

So, based on the "who's played better this year" criteria, Pavin is a better pick than Tiger!

Discuss........

[ex-mailman]

Steve Stricker has stated that he would love to pair with Tiger at the Ryder Cup. they sure waxed the World team in the Presidents Cup. Also if you take away just 5 holes in 4 rounds at the PGA Tiger would have been in the Playoff. I would say in match play with Stricker they would do just fine, THANK YOU!

[HoganWoods]

LOL.. Ryder Cup captain picks himself! I would love it!

Maybe Rickie Fowler? Take a page from Norman's book at the President's Cup and pick a young gun.

I'd still take Tiger though.

[pmar88]

Tiger will be on the team. The only way he won't play is if he tells Corey that he doesn't want to play.

[Big Johnny69]

I think Ben Crane and Zach Johnson will be there. Not sure if Tiger will be there. I don't think he deserves to be there, but it's tough to not pick the #1 player in the world when you know he could get his form back at any time (although it would probably come quicker if he bit the bullet and eargerly sought out a new coach).

Would be nice to see Fowler there, even if just for the experience.

[Mattchew]

Would like to see Fowler myself! Ben Crane would be the last person on earth I would pick...this is a team sport and Ben Crane is the slowest most annoying player on tour, not sure who would want to paired with him.

[HoganWoods]

Duval! Duval!

[leftylucas]

Its one thing for Tiger to play poorly in a tournament since he is the only one it affects. When his play sucks and it affects the Ryder Cup team the answer is no. So what about Sergio? He was always a great RC team player but this year sucks and no one is expecting Monte to put him on the team. Tiger can bounce back but it is clear that he is not on his game. Take someone that is playing hot right now. In sports it always seems like the hot teams going into finals are the ones that succeed, I think the same applies to hot golfers. There are many better choices than Tiger right now. If Tiger can turn things around in the FedEx cCup race then certainly he would be a good pick but I just do not see it.

[Gobble_It]

I think Tiger will do the right thing and decline the captain pick.
It saves CP's face and spares the other the media circus if he's there.

[leftylucas]

I thnk not, he already said he would accept if picked during his press conference last week. he thinks his game is coming aorund as well so even more reason to accept. Had he really choked again he might reconsider but you can be sure that a man with this large ego will not decline an invitation for the sake of sparing others, he has already shown his moral fiber

[Gropper]

I dont think you can compare Sergio to Tiger right now, Tiger has at least played well in the majors, just not up to his usual standards. Sergio is just a mess right now and has said him self that he needs to be away from the game. Tiger might not be playing his best but he is still #12 on the list and really should not be an issue if he is picked.

[leftylucas]

I agree, I was just making a point that current play is very important more than past performance. Tiger may be #12 but there are a few guys playing better and that have been playing well all year that should be considered first.

[fundonny]

If Tiger had played a normal schedule, I think he would have qualified. I personally wouldn't pick him, the chemistry at the team events would be a disaster. Think the wives want him anywhere near them???

[Shushu]

Personal opinion here...as being Canadian and have no allegiance to either squad.....I think Europe kills the US this year. I beleive they are overwhelmingly playing much better than the US players. And it being over in Wales this year.....forget it. So I guess maybe it doesn't matter who the US has on the team.

Does it have to be men on the team? I think it should be coed. Maybe Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, and Morgan Pressel compete. Maybe even the winner of the Big Break Sandals....would love to see Carling there.......

[quinner]

I don't think Tiger should be picked right now simply because he's not playing well. I don't care if he's number one, if he took time off and still wasn't playing would it make sense to still pick him if he was still number one while not playing?

Give me Ben Crane, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, and Nick Watney. A young gun team that's going to be fired up to play over there. I don't think AK should be there, he hasn't looked good since he's been back. It's about putting the best team out there, there are players on that list that played well at the beginning of the year but have cooled off.

[B Nation]

CP doesn't need to decide until after the first FedEX event. He can see how Tiger's game looks at that point and go from there.

If Tiger finishes top 10 there it would be near impossible to leave him off the squad, and make for an easy decision for Corey. If he misses the cut, it will be a very difficult decision and CP will get criticized no matter which way he goes.

[spackler]

I think Tiger is too wild right now to play partner golf. It's one thing for him to make insane up and downs, it's another to put a partner in the junk and expect him to have the same short game. I just don't think his game is suited for that right now.

[mberube]

Being ignored for the RC might be what he needs to get is game back on track.

That being said, if he is picked, I wonder who will he bring as date for the week?

He will be picked:

Lucas Glover
Tiger Woods
Stewart Cink
Nick Watney

[mjf]

Tiger will be picked... provided he doesn't claim he has an injury or otherwise state he doesn't want to play.

The reason he'll be picked is simple. The Ryder Cup is a business and a big money maker for the PGA. If Tiger's not there, the ratings drop big time and the PGA won't make nearly as much money.

[cobra]

It's a pretty tough spot for Corey Pavin to be in. If he picks Tiger and he doesn't do well, he'll get criticized. If he doesn't pick Tiger and the team doesn't do well, he'll get criticized. Myself, I'd pick him and see what happens.

[leftylucas]

Its all posturing IMHO, he will pick Tiger, the ratings and the PGA will put enough pressure for him to take him even if he wants to take someone else. Ratings rule

[TLB]

He's played 25 Ryder Cup matches in his career and has taken 11 points. While he's won 10 matches, his 13 defeats are the second most by an American behind Raymond Floyd's 16 (in 31 matches). And this dismal record was over five appearances since 1997 - when he was hot !

I agree with others though ... C.P. is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. History will rule on the final results.

[Thunder]

I am sure he will be picked.....as long as Celtic Manor is not TIGHT TIGHT!!!. Has anyone seen the course? If it is driver friendly, he is a shoe in!!!

[Hacker]

I am sure he will be picked.....as long as Celtic Manor is not TIGHT TIGHT!!!. Has anyone seen the course? If it is driver friendly, he is a shoe in!!!

I'm surenthat I read somewhere that The Marshes was modeled after Celtic Manor - Terry Mathews owns both courses