Automatic qualifying for the USA Ryder Cup team ended after the PGA Championship. The top eight players that are officially on the team are: Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, and Phil Mickelson.
USA Team Captain Davis Love will make four additional picks Monday September 4th following the Deutsche Bank.
Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker, Bo Van Pelt, and Dustin Johnson are the next seven names on the Ryder Cup points list.
After his big win this week at the Barclays Nick Watney may have just thrown his name into the mix also.
Hunter Mahan won two PGA Tour titles in 2012 and probably thought his position on the Ryder Cup Team was assured. Since his win at Houston in April, however, Hunter has only had one top-10 finish. Not the type of resume’ Captain Davis Love is looking for in a captain’s pick. He missed the cut at the Barclays and will need to perform well next week at the Deutsche Bank to get Captain Love’s attention.
Steve Stricker has had another steady year on tour. He picked up a win early in the year in Hawaii. He was recently runner-up at WGC-Bridgestone and has seven top-10 finishes. Strix is on the team if for no other reason than as the designated partner for Tiger Woods.
Jim Furyk is a veteran of several Ryder Cup and President Cup competitions. He is just the type of steady experienced player that a team needs. Furyk has put himself in contention more than once this year but has had some memorable failures. He held the lead at the U. S. Open with just three holes left and could not get the job done. I don’t think that will matter to Davis Love. Furyk is on the team.
Rickie Fowler finally got his first PGA Tour win at the Wells Fargo in May. He followed that up with a T-2 at the Players and T-5 at the Crowne Plaza but since then his best finish was a T-31 at the U. S. Open in June. Rickie does well in match play and would partner well with a veteran player. Plus he brings the flashy style and young viewers to the game. I think Rickie is on the team.
That leaves only one spot remaining for Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson, Bo Van Pelt, Brandt Snedeker or possibly Nick Watney.
Johnson, Mahan, and Snedeker all have wins in 2012. Van Pelt has had a career year and has been in contention several times but has not won.
Brandt Snedeker finished runner-up at the Barclays shooting 68-70 on the weekend at Bethpage. He definitely did not hurt his chances at making the team. Another high finish at the Deutsche Bank may just secure his spot.
Dustin Johnson finished just one shot behind Snedeker this week for a T-3. You just know that Love wants DJ on the USA Team. Van Pelt finished T-24 at the Barclays. It was another solid week for him but he needs a win next week to get on the Ryder Cup Team.
Nick Watney had only had three top-10’s heading into the playoffs this week. But you know what they say Winning talks but…. Well you know.
If he can back up his win with another high finish next week he may just find himself on the team.
Hunter Mahan’s missed cut puts him well behind the others. He needs a win quick.
This will be a tough decision for Captain Davis Love and the USA Ryder Cup Team. Competition makes everyone play better. Anyone of these players would be a good choice for the team.
Maybe the USA can get the Ryder Cup back at Medinah.