Should Tom Watson be chosen for the President's Cup

[jsanatx]

Come on Fred pick him

Tom Watson is deserving, he has shown that he still got game, why not add him to the President's Cup team? Older more experienced, but still with alot left in the tank, he should bring a steady presence to the team. Fred Couples should seriously think about including him. What do ya'll think? Advantage or detriment?

[Redman]

I think it would be pretty motivating and I actually think he would step up and play well, but there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening.

[muxi87]

Are you crazy?

Come on now, I know he's suddenly a crowd favorite, but are you telling me he's a better golfer right now than Hunter Mahan? Lucas Glover? Nick Watney?

What's the argument that he's more worth of a spot than any of those 3?

Makes no sense, and has no chance of happening.

The US needs the best 12 guys out there...and Tom Watson is nowhere near one of the best 12 golfers in the country.

[Sawgrass]

Does Harding Park set up anything like a links course? If so, he may well be one of the best 12 U.S. guys.

[muxi87]

[quote name='Sawgrass' post='1903114' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:26 PM']Does Harding Park set up anything like a links course? If so, he may well be one of the best 12 U.S. guys.[/quote]
nope...tree lined, west coast type course.

[url="http://www.harding-park.com/layout9.asp?id=129&page=1813"]http://www.harding-park.com/layout9.asp?id=129&page=1813[/url]

[Sawgrass]

[[quote name='muxi87' post='1903149' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:41 PM'][quote name='Sawgrass' post='1903114' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:26 PM']Does Harding Park set up anything like a links course? If so, he may well be one of the best 12 U.S. guys.[/quote]
nope...tree lined, west coast type course.

[url="http://www.harding-park.com/layout9.asp?id=129&page=1813"]http://www.harding-park.com/layout9.asp?id=129&page=1813[/url]
[/quote]


Oh well, sorry Tom. (I knew H.P. was on the water, so I thought maybe . . . )

[JLTD63]

The British Open was AWESOME...

...but Watson isn't President's Cup material right now. He's far from being one of the 12 best American golfers.

[LionLinks16]

really guys? if hadnt been for his performance at the british open would we even be talking about him? no. one week does not make him an instant captains pick. i mean he hasnt exactly performed in any other tour events after that one week. and on the same line i dont think glover should be a pick either if he doesnt make it in through points standings. someone like mahan who seems to be contending just about every single week is and should be a legitimate captains pick.

[stage1350]

I'm just going to go with "No."

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

[quote name='Sawgrass' post='1903114' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:26 PM']Does Harding Park set up anything like a links course? If so, he may well be one of the best 12 U.S. guys.[/quote]

He would have a very difficult time with his length, or the lack thereof at Harding Park. It surely isnt gonna play hard and fast like the Open did for him. That was an equalizer, a well as a homecoming of sorts for him.

[golfortennis]

I've always been a big fan of Watson's, and I don't think I've ever been as heartbroken over a golf tournament as this year's Open championship, but that was a phenomenal week. Not Watson one of the best players overall. He wouldn't be able to play target golf at the same level, and I think the length will get to him.

If he's willing to be involved as a mentor, etc., I don't think there is a greater wealth of knowledge available to the American side that is still somewhat current.

[jsanatx]

yeah well, i read an article in the local paper where golf.com is/will be starting a grass roots campaign to get Fred to pick Tom for the team. i'm not saying he should be on the team, just wishful thinking i guess. i like Tom and i think he would be a good influence. The course isn't overly long, i think the scorecard says something like 6800+ yds from the blues, totally manageable for Tom and his old legs.

[RWEEKS]

Not one of the 12 Best Golfers in America........??????????....You have to be Kidding...

How About one of the BEST 12 Golfers of all time........

If you want to learn what a true professional golfer is about....Watch Tom Watson, both on, and off the course.

A True Professional, and a Gentleman.

[Terpman]

Freddie is going to pick Mahan and Glover. As he should. But maybe he should consider Michelle Wie?

[littlepingman]

[quote name='RWEEKS' post='1904721' date='Aug 21 2009, 08:13 AM']Not one of the 12 Best Golfers in America........??????????....You have to be Kidding...

How About one of the BEST 12 Golfers of all time........

If you want to learn what a true professional golfer is about....Watch Tom Watson, both on, and off the course.

A True Professional, and a Gentleman.[/quote]

I don't think anyone is arguing that he isn't one of the top golfers of all time. Or that he isn't a true professional and a gentleman, etc, etc. We are talking about current events here and I agree he shouldn't be a pick for the President's Cup. He isn't even the best player currently on the Champions Tour.

[golfortennis]

[quote name='RWEEKS' post='1904721' date='Aug 21 2009, 08:13 AM']Not one of the 12 Best Golfers in America........??????????....You have to be Kidding...

How About one of the BEST 12 Golfers of all time........

If you want to learn what a true professional golfer is about....Watch Tom Watson, both on, and off the course.

A True Professional, and a Gentleman.[/quote]


Nicklaus is the best golfer of all time, yet you're not pushing to have him on the team......

Father time passes no one. Everything in your last three sentences is true. And they don't count for anything when the President's cup tees off.

[mhk5000]

While I like Tom Watson and his show at the British, I don't think he should be selected for the team.

1) What would this do for his career? I think it's better to display the current talent that's out there right now. Also if Tom lost more than he won, would people then get down on him or Fred?

2) To me, if Watson was selected it would seem like a marketing scheme and less about his current abilites. Since the British, he's faded from the media a bit. Also it might diminish the tournament overall in the sense that he didn't really qualify for the team. Perhaps he should just be selected as captain for a future team.

[touch]

Heck yeah take Tom from Kansas City....great pick.

[rehberg]

Maybe Norman should pick himself for the way he played last year the the open.

Silly question. It would not be even close to fair to Watson anyways.

[Redman]

[quote name='vtprodigy511' post='1903283' date='Aug 20 2009, 04:48 PM']really guys? if hadnt been for his performance at the british open would we even be talking about him? no. one week does not make him an instant captains pick. i mean he hasnt exactly performed in any other tour events after that one week. and on the same line i dont think glover should be a pick either if he doesnt make it in through points standings. someone like mahan who seems to be contending just about every single week is and should be a legitimate captains pick.[/quote]

Are you serious man? You must not have been watching much golf this summer as Glover has outplayed Mahan hands down. The one big tournament Mahan played great in.....Glover won. Now don't get me wrong, I think they both should be selected. I think it is a joke of a points system that Glover isn't in by points.

[muxi87]

[quote name='RWEEKS' post='1904721' date='Aug 21 2009, 08:13 AM']Not one of the 12 Best Golfers in America........??????????....You have to be Kidding...

How About one of the BEST 12 Golfers of all time........

If you want to learn what a true professional golfer is about....Watch Tom Watson, both on, and off the course.

A True Professional, and a Gentleman.[/quote]

on that note, let's get Arnie and Jack ready to go. Wake up Randolph Junah and Bobby Jones from their sleep...surely they could help.

Come on man, nobody has said he's not an all time great, but he's not even sniffing the top 12 active players list.

[vh2145]

I bet Watson could take Couples in match play

[faith+1]

Picking Watson would destroy whatever little credibility the Presidents Cup has, people already give it no credit compared to the Ryder Cup and this would just add fuel to the fire. I love the Presidents Cup and actually prefer it to the Ryder Cup because it includes the rest of the world, but no one in their right mind would even think about suggesting that Watson should be on the Ryder Cup team if it were played this year.

Moreover, Tom has too much class to even accept such an invitation if it were given. He would respectfully decline, because he knows he has no business on that team.

[Sawgrass]

Wait, this just in: Michelle Wie's 3-0-1 record in the Solheim Cup has made her the obvious captain's pick in the President's Cup.

(Now I'm running away from my computer in case any of you try to hurt me.)

[Williams5203]

did some of you miss what happened to him in the playoff, which, even though it was 4 hold agg. stroke, was pseudo match play?

Amazing story, but he's not one of the best twelve. Mahan on the other hand delivered big time last year in the Ryder Cup.

[ProjectX]

[quote name='BEND OF THE RIVER GC' post='1903430' date='Aug 20 2009, 02:54 PM'][quote name='Sawgrass' post='1903114' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:26 PM']Does Harding Park set up anything like a links course? If so, he may well be one of the best 12 U.S. guys.[/quote]

He would have a very difficult time with his length, or the lack thereof at Harding Park. It surely isnt gonna play hard and fast like the Open did for him. That was an equalizer, a well as a homecoming of sorts for him.
[/quote]

Most people don't know much about harding park that aren't from the Bay Area, but this is a muni course that the pros flat out tear up. The course is about as flat as they come and Tom Watson would have 0 trouble with the length of the course at all. The course is not very windy and it's very difficult to get into any type of trouble that would really cost you any strokes. There are a few 440 yard par 4's, but nothing of major championship length and you don't even need to shape the shot because the majority of the holes are dead straight. This course is not located on the ocean. It's located near a very small lake. Expect a ton of birdies at the Presidents Cup. The only thing that might hinder some birdies is that this is a muni course and these greens will not roll near as well as the greens the pros are used to.

Tom hits the ball over 300 off the tee still. The only thing that is keeping me from saying he could play is his putting. The bottom line to me is if the US needs Tom Watson to sink an 8 footer to win the cup it's just not happening. Hunter Mahan proved last year at the Ryder Cup that he can get that done. Lucas Glover proved in the US Open that he can get that done. Tom Watson is a great story, but he's not what the US needs.