Correctly predicted here (see reply #5):
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45589.0/Jerry:
Ryder Cup experience can be over-rated; Holmes and Weekley had terrific Ryder Cups two years ago as rookies, and plenty of Euro rookies have done well in the last two decades. I think you want a mix of experience and rookies, and Pavin has Mickelson, Mahan, Furyk, and Stricker -- and now Cink, Johnson and Woods -- with RCup experience, four of those multiple RCups.
JNC Lyon:
Watney's final round at the PGA may have cost him a slot on the team; can't imagine Pavin didn't notice his final-round meltdown under a lot of pressure.
Matt:
The last time the RCup was on Euro soil, in '06, Cink was one of the few bright spots for a US squad that played quite poorly. Three halves, one blowout loss, and a big early win against Sergio that gave the US a small glimmer during singles play. He was 14th on the points list, and Pavin chose two guys ahead of him not already on the team (Woods, Johnson), and bypassed an injured Kim and Glover, who's done nothing this year, and blew a final-round lead recently. The difference between a Van Pelt as 13th and Cink at 14th is a flip of the coin; given that Cink's been there before, and Van Pelt isn't a great putter, I think the choice of Cink is defensible.
Fowler's a bit of a flier -- but he's got a lot of game and the kind of flair that I think might prove successful in the highly charged atmosphere of the RCup.