Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, and Rickie Fowler

[MMB1500]

Zach Johnson is a great pick, not that he was ever really going to be left out. I think he's one of the most underrated players around, possibly because his swing is not the prettiest and he's not a beast off the tee.

[jebb]

They never did pick Jay Don Blake...

[pinseek]

Good picks...would like to have seen Couples. Good team guy, been there and can still tee it up with the kids.
CW

[mosesgolf]

IMO, both sides have fantastic teams. On paper Euro looks a little stronger. Heck they had to leave off Justin Rose and Paul Casey. But USA wins.
Not very crazy about Zack Johnson and Cink. Those seem to be the weakest links. As far as Fowler goes, he likely relish this opportunity and kick some arse like AK did back in 08 as a rook. These up and coming young guns are more experienced than the young players of the yesteryear.

[golffuul]

Tiger, unfortunately, is on the team because of the $$$. Skill aside, he hasn't proven he is worthy to make the team. Fowler has played steady for most of the year, but recently has looked like he's hit the wall. Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink are regaining their old form, so I don't mind those picks. I think the one player who has played well and proved he can handle pressure, as of late, is the current Deutsche Bank Champion, Charley Hoffman. If I were to exchange Hoffman for any one player it would probably be either Tiger or Fowler. The Ryder Cup is not the place to bring a guy in the middle of a swing change to see if he can regain his old form or a rookie who has the skill to play but appears to be out of gas. This is about bringing your hottest players to the table and playing your cards. You can argue that Fowler and Woods are "proven winners", but if I was going to go with that mentality...than Europe better have Bernhard Langer, and the U.S. side better be bringing Fred Couples.

I say Europe Wins with anywhere between 18 and 20 points. They have the motivation and they don't have Phil or Tiger to fall flat. I hope I eat my words, but on paper it's pretty much a no brainer.

[elwhippy]

As a Brit I am not shocked by any of Corey's picks. Cink will bring a bit of experience. Tiger will love South Wales, lots of gorgeous women and Celtic Manor is wide open so no trees for him to visit. Only hope the weather holds up, the course is very long and holds water. Bring it on!

[duckhook]

[quote name='golffuul' timestamp='1283888277' post='2683717']
Tiger, unfortunately, is on the team because of the $$$. Skill aside, he hasn't proven he is worthy to make the team. Fowler has played steady for most of the year, but recently has looked like he's hit the wall. Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink are regaining their old form, so I don't mind those picks. I think the one player who has played well and proved he can handle pressure, as of late, is the current Deutsche Bank Champion, Charley Hoffman. If I were to exchange Hoffman for any one player it would probably be either Tiger or Fowler. The Ryder Cup is not the place to bring a guy in the middle of a swing change to see if he can regain his old form or a rookie who has the skill to play but appears to be out of gas. This is about bringing your hottest players to the table and playing your cards. You can argue that Fowler and Woods are "proven winners", but if I was going to go with that mentality...than Europe better have Bernhard Langer, and the U.S. side better be bringing Fred Couples.

I say Europe Wins with anywhere between 18 and 20 points. They have the motivation and they don't have Phil or Tiger to fall flat. I hope I eat my words, but on paper it's pretty much a no brainer.
[/quote]


I am not a Tiger fan. HATED him and his Dad since junior golf. Both were so arrogant. But he is the #1 player in the world, even without playing good the last year. The fact that nobody could catch him for #1 is ludicrous. His game will be perfect in best ball and singles. His putting will get more aggressive, which spells trouble for everyone else.

Fowler I agree with. No way I pick a non-winner unless they are really hot. For him to be on this team is crazy. I probably would have gone Holmes. He hits it long, makes birdies, plays well in cold weather, has won, and plays so slow that his opponents might just WD on hole #5.

[WHC888]

now we can see what happens to Tiger VS Rory....it should/will be good TV.

[remlapr]

I can barely watch Overton. He has to be the biggest conflict of physical talent and mental weakness on tour. That dude might really blow a fuse under the gun over there in front of those crowds. Hopefully he can get at least a half in four ball, but I'm going to guess he's 3 pts in the Euro bank. I feel bad for AK. He got the surgery when he did and lost the meat of the season just so he could play in the Ryder Cup. If this wouldn't have been a Ryder Cup year he has said he would have waited until the off season.

[moonshine]

I have no love for Holmes' game. He can hit shots fat, thin, and off the map at any time. Ricky is far more consitent from tee to green. There will be new pressure for both sides. However, in the end, the Euro team will feel it most playing on their turf. I would never get on here and bash the American side like some of you have. If the tourney at the Manor is not any different from earlier this year, everyone will be making birdies. McDowell ate that place alive.

[The Big Number]

Fowler, eh? I guess the U.S. has thrown in the towel already.

[rgk5]

[quote name='The Big Number' timestamp='1283891120' post='2683812']
Fowler, eh? I guess the U.S. has thrown in the towel already.
[/quote]


Sure a real dud as he has only won $2.4 million this year as a rookie. Terrible.

[magilla97]

Montgomery is a fool for not picking Paul Casey.

[moonshine]

[quote name='The Big Number' timestamp='1283891120' post='2683812']
Fowler, eh? I guess the U.S. has thrown in the towel already.
[/quote]
Crow tastes terrible cold!

[UnderPar18]

Monty is just as stupid not picking Justin Rose as Corey Pavin is stupid for picking Cink. I think Ricky F. is a solid pick. You need a young gun who will fight for the cup for his country. Look at what AK did.

[The Big Number]

[quote name='rgk5' timestamp='1283891402' post='2683820']
[quote name='The Big Number' timestamp='1283891120' post='2683812']
Fowler, eh? I guess the U.S. has thrown in the towel already.
[/quote]


Sure a real dud as he has only won $2.4 million this year as a rookie. Terrible.
[/quote]

So if you pick based on the money list then I guess Tiger was a bad pick.

[texcrom]

Couple of thoughts:

[list]
[*]I wouldn't put Tiger with Furyk; he plays better with Stricker. Three points right there.
[*]I'm betting that this experience will be the coming of age for Ricky Fowler. Good addition of a guy who will be a fixture for years to come.
[*]Not big on Z. Johnson. I agree with the poster who stated he was good for pars and losing 2 & 1.
[*]Overton is going to self-destruct before our very eyes from the pressure. I can't imagine being his partner.
[*]I'm also wary of Mickelson this time around. Might be a good mentor for Fowler. But for the last few months, it seems every time he gets near the lead, he folds. Maybe his concentration is shot from the personal issues all year.
[*]Anyone else guessing that DLIII is a lock for captain in 2012?
[*]I'm looking for Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson to be big time breakout stars on this team this time.
[*]Lastly, I have no confidence in Corey Pavin as captain. I still wish they had given to Azinger again, but I know that the PGA didn't like the idea of a repeating captain.
[/list]

Just my random thoughts. Based on the last bullet point, I'm looking for Europe to win, which will piss me off.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

[quote name='texcrom' timestamp='1283894039' post='2683918']
Couple of thoughts:

[list][*]I wouldn't put Tiger with Furyk; he plays better with Stricker. Three points right there.[*]I'm betting that this experience will be the coming of age for Ricky Fowler. Good addition of a guy who will be a fixture for years to come.[*]Not big on Z. Johnson. I agree with the poster who stated he was good for pars and losing 2 & 1.[*][color="#ff0000"]Overton is going to self-destruct before our very eyes from the pressure. I can't imagine being his partner[/color].[*]I'm also wary of Mickelson this time around. Might be a good mentor for Fowler. But for the last few months, it seems every time he gets near the lead, he folds. Maybe his concentration is shot from the personal issues all year.[*]Anyone else guessing that DLIII is a lock for captain in 2012?[*]I'm looking for Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson to be big time breakout stars on this team this time.[*]Lastly, I have no confidence in Corey Pavin as captain. I still wish they had given to Azinger again, but I know that the PGA didn't like the idea of a repeating captain.[/list]

Just my random thoughts. Based on the last bullet point, I'm looking for Europe to win, which will piss me off.
[/quote]
I almost wrote something very similar in my post. I think there will definitely be some drama with him. I'm sure his european opponents will be just waiting to screw with him in gamesmanship type ploys. I can see him blowing his top over having to putt out a 1 footer.

[bobmarley]

[quote name='golffuul' timestamp='1283888277' post='2683717']
Tiger, unfortunately, is on the team because of the $$. Skill aside, he hasn't proven he is worthy to make the team. Fowler has played steady for most of the year, but recently has looked like he's hit the wall. Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink are regaining their old form, so I don't mind those picks. I think the one player who has played well and proved he can handle pressure, as of late, is the current Deutsche Bank Champion, Charley Hoffman. If I were to exchange Hoffman for any one player it would probably be either Tiger or Fowler. The Ryder Cup is not the place to bring a guy in the middle of a swing change to see if he can regain his old form or a rookie who has the skill to play but appears to be out of gas. This is about bringing your hottest players to the table and playing your cards. You can argue that Fowler and Woods are "proven winners", but if I was going to go with that mentality...than Europe better have Bernhard Langer, and the U.S. side better be bringing Fred Couples.

I say Europe Wins with anywhere between 18 and 20 points. They have the motivation and they don't have Phil or Tiger to fall flat. I hope I eat my words, but on paper it's pretty much a no brainer.
[/quote]

Funniest post I have read on these forums in a while.

[rankoutsider]

I wonder if serious consideration was given to Couples, who is having a better year than Cink and Johnson (although at least Johnson has won). I think Fowler has actually earned his way on with a bunch of high finishes early in the year where he played well enough to win, but someone just took it away from him, esp. at the Memorial. Setting up the McIlroy vs. Fowler singles match is a no-brainer from the television point of view anyway.

The only argument for picking Cink and Johnson is that there was nobody else really to pick. Hoffman's on a good run, but he could really embarrass a captain by throwing his putter in the water on the second hole if he misses a short one and then go on to lose 5 and 4 putting with a hybrid or wedge. That kind of stuff isn't easily forgotten if you are lobbying to get yourself picked. I think he has matured since then and would never do that again, but he has already done the damage to his reputation with that move.

Brian Gay would have been a good pick because he is such a good putter, and guys like Streelman, Watney, Snedaeker, etc. could have been given some consideration and probably should have been there ahead of Cink in my mind. I would also have probably gone with Glover as a pick, because he is a very steady customer as well.

These are TV inspired picks for sure, with Cink and Johnson added because they aren't going to be any trouble for the captain or vice captains (tantrums, infighting, late nights with the ladies, you name it). Goydos and Love are going to age ten years in two weeks.

[Deerslayer]

Fowler is an EXCELLENT pick! For all of you who are bitter about this pick, loosen your brown belt from your kahki slacks with your black shoes and navy cap and get over it. The kid is a GREAT team player and knows as much or more about TEAM GOLF than most of the INDIVIDUALS that comprise this team. It is not always about the hottest player, or the best player or many of the meaningless stats you spew out. Team golf is often about chemistry, enthusiasm, comrade re and other intangibles. This is exactly why the euro's have owned a lot of the better INDIVIDUAL players that the USA has strolled out on the course in prior cups. Fowler knows how to get it done on teams and I have no doubt will do the same in this Ryder Cup. I am just hoping Pavin gets the team some Flex-fit 210S Flat Brims with the US flag on them! The Kahki crowd's heads would simultaneously explode.

 

 

[jfzhorseman]

The reason the selection process was changed was to give the captain the chance to take more of the "hottest" players at that time. I don't think these selections did that.

 

When you look at Americans, who aren't already qualified, and how they have played the last 4-6 weeks, nobody has been hotter than Ryan Palmer. He would have been a great selection as his style of play would seem to fit match play. He makes as many birdies as anyone on Tour and his blow-ups wouldn't be that costly in match-play.

 

 

Agreed.......Zack, Fowler, Cink all poor choices.....this list could/should have been much more strong. Big mistakes IMHO!

 

 

Fowler, eh? I guess the U.S. has thrown in the towel already.

 

 

Fowler is an EXCELLENT pick! For all of you who are bitter about this pick, loosen your brown belt from your kahki slacks with your black shoes and navy cap and get over it. The kid is a GREAT team player and knows as much or more about TEAM GOLF than most of the INDIVIDUALS that comprise this team. It is not always about the hottest player, or the best player or many of the meaningless stats you spew out. Team golf is often about chemistry, enthusiasm, comrade re and other intangibles. This is exactly why the euro's have owned a lot of the better INDIVIDUAL players that the USA has strolled out on the course in prior cups. Fowler knows how to get it done on teams and I have no doubt will do the same in this Ryder Cup. I am just hoping Pavin gets the team some Flex-fit 210S Flat Brims with the US flag on them! The Kahki crowd's heads would simultaneously explode.

 

 

 

 

You are correct-he dominated the Walker Cup at Merion and played well in Wales. He is not afraid to pull the trigger and his game is suited to the Team Formats. He will play in Many more RC's and will win his share. Most guys on here have no idea behind the selection process and CP is not Hal Sutton.

[Llortamaisey]

Fowler is an EXCELLENT pick! For all of you who are bitter about this pick, loosen your brown belt from your kahki slacks with your black shoes and navy cap and get over it. The kid is a GREAT team player and knows as much or more about TEAM GOLF than most of the INDIVIDUALS that comprise this team. It is not always about the hottest player, or the best player or many of the meaningless stats you spew out. Team golf is often about chemistry, enthusiasm, comrade re and other intangibles. This is exactly why the euro's have owned a lot of the better INDIVIDUAL players that the USA has strolled out on the course in prior cups. Fowler knows how to get it done on teams and I have no doubt will do the same in this Ryder Cup. I am just hoping Pavin gets the team some Flex-fit 210S Flat Brims with the US flag on them! The Kahki crowd's heads would simultaneously explode.

 

 

Someone has Bieber-Fever!

[Tee_Party]

All the hullaboo over Fowler not going to matter much anyway.

With guys like Tiger, Kuchar and Phil on the team, how much playing time will he really see?

[Sloth1098]

1) I love the Fowler pick --- could be argued that he's not quite ready, but has performed well in international play, has risen to the moments so far in his young career. Get him on the Ryder Cup drug now, he could be a mainstay for 20 years.

2) Cink. Really? Nice guy, not playing well, poor record. REALLY sucks that AK has not rounded into form from his injury. This is the only pick I really don't like --- hopefully I'm proven wrong. I personally would have taken O'Hair.

[Deerslayer]

[quote]Someone has Bieber-Fever! [/quote]

What the hell is that?

[jfzhorseman]

[quote name='Sloth1098' timestamp='1283898018' post='2684046']
1) I love the Fowler pick --- could be argued that he's not quite ready, but has performed well in international play, has risen to the moments so far in his young career. Get him on the Ryder Cup drug now, he could be a mainstay for 20 years.

2) Cink. Really? Nice guy, not playing well, poor record. REALLY sucks that AK has not rounded into form from his injury. This is the only pick I really don't like --- hopefully I'm proven wrong. I personally would have taken O'Hair.
[/quote]
OHair has a lot of game but can't putt, same for JB. The best putting team always wins.

[CasualLie]

Why is everyone so down on Cink? I'm not Cink fan, but I at least know he has won plenty in match play.

2010 Accenture, def E. Molinari 2 up to start, won 4 matches before getting drummed by Paul Casey who is not on the Euro Team!

2009 Accenture, def Westwood, Mickelson, and Els before losing to eventual champ Ogilvy. BTW, guess who was in the final that year and not on the Euro Team? That's right, Casey!

2008 Accenture, def Jimenez, Harrington, Monty, Cabrera and Leonard before getting drummed by Tiger in the final. (and Casey won three matches).

Seems to be not too bad of a pick for Pavin, but really it's Monty who made the stupid decision to leave Casey off the team.

[tripled67]

I LOVE the Fowler pick, he get up for it. I think he is going to have a big bandwagon of new fans after the RC and a few haters eating crow if they are willing to admit it. I would have swapped Cink for Holmes, gotta love Holmes offense. Put him with a steady partner and he is good to go. ZJ is better than Cink but still bland toast, wish AK was in better form. Finally, you take Tiger because you can't not take Tiger...Pick your reason.
P.S. at least Corey didn't make the worst mistake, Monty wins by not picking Paul Casey. He really must live in a cave!

[Sloth1098]

[quote name='jfzhorseman' timestamp='1283898271' post='2684058']
[quote name='Sloth1098' timestamp='1283898018' post='2684046']
1) I love the Fowler pick --- could be argued that he's not quite ready, but has performed well in international play, has risen to the moments so far in his young career. Get him on the Ryder Cup drug now, he could be a mainstay for 20 years.

2) Cink. Really? Nice guy, not playing well, poor record. REALLY sucks that AK has not rounded into form from his injury. This is the only pick I really don't like --- hopefully I'm proven wrong. I personally would have taken O'Hair.
[/quote]
OHair has a lot of game but can't putt, same for JB. The best putting team always wins.
[/quote]
Fair enough. I've just always had this feeling (based on nothing) that O'Hair is on the verge of something big. Tough picks, though -- unlike the Euro team, it's hard to argue that those left off deserved to be on. I know the Euro's are getting a lot of love, and deservedly so, but I think they're gonna miss Casey.