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U.S. Ryder Cup Picks: Did DL3 get them right?

Published

8 years ago

Sep 27, 2016

It’s a fool’s errand to sit here and tell you whether Davis Love III and his “Task Force” got the captain’s picks right. Next Sunday is the real barometer of whether Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore should have made the team, or if leaving someone like Bubba Watson off the team was a mistake. It’s no different than arguing whether your team drafted the right player in your favorite sport. Sure things become busts, and no-names become legends.

We are in our final week of second guessing, questioning and arguing over the U.S. Ryder Cup picks. Should Watson have replaced Holmes… or should Berger be playing instead of Fowler? On and on down the line. But let’s be honest; there were no sure picks for this team. No one player deserved to be chosen. There were no “wrong” or “right” picks. Only eight players deserved to make the team, and those eight players did make the team. But with that said, there are some questions about each guy selected and whether they were the right choice for the team.

It starts with Rickie Fowler. Of Fowler, Love III said, “We found no weaknesses in his game.” He also cited his ability to perform on the big stage and intangibles as a teammate. There is little doubt Fowler is the most popular player on the team, which may be his biggest intangible. Fans will love him and cheer loudly every time he tees off. But while popular — maybe the most popular player in golf — his record leaves one wanting more. He has lost multiple leads this year after 54-holes. He failed to compete for a win at any of the majors this year, and he had a poor showing at the Olympics. Fowler didn’t even make the top-30 for the Tour Championship. And maybe more importantly, he’s never won a Ryder Cup match, which makes it questionable if that is the type of experience you want on the team.

Matt Kuchar has had a decent year, but hardly anything to write home about. He had a great Sunday at the Olympics to earn a bronze medal, but how often is a third-place finish worthy of a Ryder Cup spot? Plus, he did it against a small field with most of the best golfers in the world absent. In his defense, he seems to have the personality the team needs and has actual wins as a Ryder Cup player. A guy who doesn’t seem to do anything great, but everything well, Kuchar will be looked to bring home valuable points if the U.S. is going to win.

J.B. Holmes has a game that would seem to fit Hazeltine and its 7,600-yard layout the best. He has the ability to bomb the ball past anyone on the European team not named McIlroy, and has shown improvement with the putter this year. He has two top-four finishes at the majors and made the Tour Championship. Pairing him with a great iron player during the alternate shot format should form a strong pairing that could lead to a lot of birdies.

Love III’s final pick seems his most defensible. Ryan Moore has had a strong year and was a match play legend as an amateur. He also has a top-five finish at the WGC-Dell Match Play this year and went head to head Sunday with McIlroy at the Tour Championship, matching his 64 and taking him to extra holes. Another guy who does everything well, but nothing great, would seem to have an opportunity to be a strong player this weekend. The question is, how much of an opportunity will he get? He could have and likely should have been one of the first three players picked for the team, but wasn’t.

It isn’t clear if Love III wanted Moore or if he forced his way onto the team with his Sunday finish. With Love III moving his final pick to after the Tour Championship, he almost had to pick Moore. If not, the change in selection process could have been seen as a farce. Which leads to the other obvious question: How important was this Task Force if it was all tossed aside based on a guy coming in second at the Tour Championship?

Love III had other options, players who played well this year on the big stage and some who have the Ryder Cup experience Love III seemed to cherish. Bill Haas finished ninth this year for aggregate score at all the majors. He has been a successful President’s Cup player and been on Ryder Cup teams. Bubba Watson had a stronger major campaign than Fowler and adds the distance that may be required for Hazeltine. Kevin Na finished in fourth at 13-over for aggregate major score and has a quirkiness on the course that could have frustrated European players.

But the picks are in and the matches are about to begin. We won’t have to guess much longer whether all the build up to the picks mattered. If Love III is holding the cup on Sunday night, he made the right choices and it was worth it.

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18 Comments

Snoopy

Sep 30, 2016 at 8:30 am

I voiced pretty much the same opinions as this article in a conversation the other day. One other player I’m lukewarm about is Zach Johnson. He’s consistently very mediocre and only wins a tournament once in a while. High floor, low ceiling. Not that I really know what I’m doing, but I would swap him for one of the younger guys, like a Kevin Chappell, who bombs it and is absolutely on fire right now. I get that he auto qualified but still… there’s plenty of other play’s I’d put my money on to win ONE event.

Reply Report comment
Grizz01

Sep 28, 2016 at 8:44 pm

Exactly… and if the US loses… He will be the reason why.

Reply Report comment
ChrisG

Sep 28, 2016 at 2:21 pm

So why wasn’t Bubba selected ?

Was it related to his play … or personality ?

Reply Report comment
Mr. Wedge

Sep 28, 2016 at 9:16 am

I think it’s pretty clear Fowler was chosen for his camaraderie, not his skills. I don’t totally disagree with the pick for this reason.

Reply Report comment
- KJ
  
  Sep 28, 2016 at 9:29 am
  
  Well, camaraderie doesn’t win golf matches. His being part of the team in the past hasn’t helped the US win? Fowler is not an ideal match play competitor in my opinion. I think he lacks the necessary toughness. If there is a single pick of the 4 that is to be questioned, its Fowler. I think DL3 has taken a huge risk with him.
  
  Reply Report comment
- KJ
  
  Sep 28, 2016 at 9:33 am
  
  The US hasn’t won with Fowler in the past with all of the “camaraderie? he has brought to the team? Huge risk that DL3 has taken with him. He is not a good match player b/c he lacks toughness in my opinion. Quit being so damn nice and play with a chip on your shoulder.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Grizz01
    
    Sep 28, 2016 at 8:46 pm
    
    Fowler has zero points in the Ryder Cup. Only played in the Olympics because others bowed out. Has had a terrible last 3 months. You want to pick a guy who is hot right now.
    
    Reply Report comment
tom

Sep 27, 2016 at 10:10 pm

DL3 as captain is about as exciting as Norv Turner being the head coach of your football team.

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KJ

Sep 27, 2016 at 1:35 pm

Lets be clear. Making the final 4 picks is not easy. There are 10-12 players that could have been picked for various different reasons. I do think the Americans have put too much stock into the “task force” and selection process. In the end, you have to play good golf and make putts. Europe has done that much better than the USA the last 10-15 years. The team hoisting the Cup on Sunday will have played better than their counterparts. No surprise.

Reply Report comment
- Michael
  
  Sep 27, 2016 at 4:52 pm
  
  I think that there is a tendency in North American sport to analyze and process everything to death. Sure, you can look at stats and whatnot, but it really is about who is playing better golf, and who has created a team that enables its golfers to play their best.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Hack
    
    Sep 27, 2016 at 7:23 pm
    
    I am a huge Epl fan and I assure you they do the same thing across the pond.
    
    Reply Report comment
Jon

Sep 27, 2016 at 10:13 am

With a record of 0-3-5 they found the perfect Furyk replacement in Fowler.

Reply Report comment
- Bwall
  
  Sep 27, 2016 at 11:12 am
  
  I don’t understand the “task force” for the American. Let’s gather in a room, act like we are really doing something, and then bring back everyone who hasn’t been able to get the job done in the past.
  
  All started when Tom benched Mickelson in the afternoon session because he sprayed the ball all over the place in the AM. Then Phil threw his captain under the bus in the media. How about instead of whining, you hit the ball straighter, win a few matches, and don’t stand there smiling and clapping as Poulter is giving it to you from behind.
  
  I’m American, and I so hope the Europeans embarrass the crap out them and put this “task force” nonsense to rest.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - KJ
    
    Sep 28, 2016 at 9:30 am
    
    Really? You hope the US loses? Some patriot you are.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Grizz01
    
    Sep 28, 2016 at 8:48 pm
    
    Yep… the task force… if anything should have been lead by and dominated by the Guy who captained a winning dominate team… Paul Azinger! Hardly talked to at all. And… Paul won without Tiger Wood.
    
    Reply Report comment
Michael

Sep 27, 2016 at 9:54 am

So much chatter about selecting a team that isn’t going to win anyway.

Reply Report comment
- Colin Gillbanks
  
  Sep 27, 2016 at 10:22 am
  
  Surely you’d have your guys down as favourites this time?
  
  *sorry, I’m making an assumption that you’re American. Apologies if not correct.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Michael
    
    Sep 27, 2016 at 11:02 am
    
    I am not.
    
    Reply Report comment

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