The Ryder Cup is just around the corner, and U.S. qualifying has ended, with these players in (order of qualifying):
Tiger, B. Watson, Dufner, K. Bradley, W. Simpson, Z. Johnson, Kuchar, Mickelson.
Davis Love III has four picks at his disposal. Here's the next list of players, 9-25 (in order of Ryder Cup points accumulated): Mahan, Stricker, Furyk, Fowler, Snedeker, Van Pelt, D. Johnson, Garrigus, Haas, Curtis, Piercy, K. Stanley, Na, J. Wagner, M. Wilson, Toms, Huh.
So who's he pick? In Dufner, Bradley, and Simpson, he has three RC rookies with little experience in international tournaments of any kind. But he also has a bunch of RC experience w/ Tiger and Mickelson, and previous RC experience with Bubba, Kuchar, and Z. Johnson. Davis seemed to hint that experience in past RC might be a deciding factor in who he picks, but also suggested that players could "play their way onto to team" during the Fed-Ex tourneys upcoming.
Also -- some interesting mix of playing styles. Tiger, Bubba, Bradley and Mickelson all could be characterized as long-ball hitters, and would perhaps benefit from playing on a long and beefy Medinah. But Dufner, Simpson, Johnson and Kuchar are not. GCA section: Does potential Medinah set-up influence his choices? How will -- or should -- Medinah be set up for the RC?
Speculation after the PGA suggested strongly that Love will choose Furyk and Stricker. Furyk, despite his last-round meltdowns, is one of the RC good-old-boys from Love's era and has had a pretty good year with 5 top-10s and 17th in FedEx standings. Stricker is a Tiger partner for alternate shot, and maybe fourballs as well (and, given his Wisconsin and Illinois ties, will have a huge fan base in Chicago). Love also seems to be a fan of Fowler, who had a pretty good RC debut in Wales two years ago.
Predictions? Here's mine:
What Love will likely do: Stricker, Furyk, Fowler and (ugh...) Mahan.
What I hope Love will do: Stricker, Fowler, Snedeker (best putter available), and D. Johnson (big hitting intimidator).
What Love will do if he's totally thinking outside the box: Stricker, Snedeker, D. Johnson and Garrigus, a free-thinking, big-hitting former pot smoker (this year's Boo Weekley don't-give-a-crap RC success story). Oh, and he sits Tiger for both foursomes matches.
Prediction: Euro retains the Ryder Cup in a tie. Remember, always bet against the US winning the Ryder Cup when Tiger's on the team.
P.S. Euro Ryder Cup qualification system has me bam-boozled. Who is Jose Marie likely to pick?