The Round Table: did the Ryder Cup captains pick the right players?
Each week we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
The Ryder Cup Captain’s picks are in for both teams. On the American side Zach Johnson chose Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns, who were inside the Top 12 rankings, then looked beyond to #13 Rickie Fowler and #15 Justin Thomas to round out his squad. That left no room for #9 Cameron Young and #11 Keegan Bradley. Did Johnson get it right? If not, where did he go wrong?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): I’ll say it again: I think he should’ve picked Lucas Glover, who may be dull as dishwater, but he’s played really well over the last month, and I say, “strike while the iron is hot.” I would not have picked Brooks Koepka, because he’s a turncoat, and I don’t think he’s much of a team player. I would not have picked Justin Thomas, who hasn’t hit the broad side of a barn door for months. I would’ve picked Rickie Fowler. So basically, Zach is one for four in my book.
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): I don’t like Johnston’s picks, its ridiculous that at least one of, if not both Cam and Keegan didn’t make that team. He went pretty far down the list to skip over those guys. I think team Europe is a strong team, stronger than maybe Team USA and the American media think. If not clear, I’m cheering for Europe.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: The Ryder Cup Team should be the top 12-point winners for the USA, or the Captain should pick all 12. Thomas needed to pitch in at his final hole of the year which he almost succeeded in doing but he didn’t. Young and Bradley did what they were supposed to do and were overlooked. This smells bad. I’m glad he chose Koepka. Koepka’s record is worthy and if you are tunnelling down the LIV rabbit hole that ship has sailed along with the PGA TOUR (Honest Jay M) and professional gambling.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I wasn’t surprised at the USA picks but a bit disappointed that they didn’t take Lucas Glover, mostly because I like him and think he deserved it after an amazing end to his year. It is an old boys club (with the old boys being in their early 30s), so it makes sense that Rickie and Justin made the team. The spot where the captains went wrong was guaranteeing a few months ago that Cam Young was on the team, having him still ranked 9th, and then not taking him. That was kick in the teeth for a great player. But ultimately this probably does the best job of creating a strong team atmosphere, which you’d have to expect is Zach Johnson’s number 1 goal.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Well, given the latest revelations about the Saudi Public Investment Fund behind LIV and other global sports enterprises, the Koepka pick was obviously tone deaf. The rest of the picks are part of the long-running (and very boring) American soap opera. With each U.S. Cup captaincy, it becomes clearer that the top guy should have no picks other than the shirts (while trying not to outdo Crenshaw). Top 12 qualifiers, done and done.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): I think he got it right. Koepka, Spieth, Morikawa, Fowler – no issue. Young was an obvious deletion in my mind as he earned the bulk of his points last year and earlier this season. Definitely not the hot hand. Plus, he’s never won on the PGA Tour. That left Burns, Thomas, Bradley and Glover for two spots. Bradley and Glover have played really well of late and have two wins each. Thomas and Burns have buddy connections. For team chemistry, hold your nose and go with the latter two. Count on lots of second guessing if they don’t perform well in Italy.
On the European side, Captain Luke Donald picked Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, who were all considered pretty secure, then surprised some by choosing Nicolai Hojgaard and rookie professional Ludvig Aberg. How do you feel about Donald’s picks and who should have been on this team?
Deeks: I like those first four picks and support the addition of two lesser-known players (both unknown to me). I’m delighted he didn’t pick Poulter or Garcia. He MIGHT have considered Paddy Harrington, who, despite his age, has been playing very well at both the regular and senior tour levels this season.
Loughry: Meronk should be on Team Europe, dude had 3 wins this year (and currently 5th on the Ryder Cup points list) and has played splendidly all year. I have no idea why or how he was left off. I don’t buy the rookie bit they’re providing as the excuse either, there are 4 other rookies on the team, the young buck Aberg included (who just got his first professional win). Would have also been great for Polish golf, I think it’s a huge bogey not taking Meronk (who has also been trending up the last few years on Tour). He should feel slighted because he was.
Schurman: The mainstays are naturals, but the rookies are why the Euros continue to succeed. They constantly build for the future. Hojgaard had a great final round in the Euro Masters and Aberg is going to be something very special. His win shows that. Besides, he just won the European Masters Swiss Open, the event Jerry Anderson won and set the all-time world 72-hole scoring record. I wonder if this is the year Jerry finally is inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. One thing is for sure, he hasn’t been denied all these years due to an insufficient body of work.
Rule: I like the picks. I was a bit surprised he took Hojgaard over Meronk, not sure I agree with that one, but Aberg was a slam dunk in my mind, he’s the next true Euro star, so no better time than now to throw him into the fire. The Euro team is very top heavy, but not nearly as strong as the US team in the back half, so pressure is on these picks to make Luke look good for taking them.
Quinn: Obviously tougher on the Euro side to make picks (again, the picks are an anachronism well past the best before date) but Donald’s reflect his persona. He’s made interesting life choices since he left home — ie: making Chicago home!— and unfailingly comes off as a sharp and articulate guy. Getting to see Aberg handle this role — and Hojgaard too — is reason enough to tune in. Thanks Luke.
Mumford: Hard to see why Donald didn’t choose Adrian Meronk with his terrific record, especially at the Ryder Cup host course. Hojgaard and Aberg are a gamble but justifiable based on their recent play. The biggest head scratcher is Shane Lowry who has played poorly this year. I suppose Donald wanted the Irishman for veteran leadership, but this is the one that could hurt if he lays an egg in Rome. I would have taken Meronk over Lowry.
On the weekend at the Walker Cup, American Gordon Sargent and John Gough from Team GB&I were tied on the 16th green. Both faced difficult four-footers, but the players decided to halve the hole with a declaration of “good-good”. They then moved onto the 17th where Sargent went one up and eventually won the match. Both players have received criticism for conceding the putts. What’s your take on it and how would you deal with a similar situation if an opponent offered you a “good-good’ option?
Deeks: Ooooh, good question. Considering that I’m one of the worst short putters in history, I’m always happy when an opponent gives me anything. I’d rather settle for good-good than the chance that I could lose the hole. As for this situation, I like the good sportsmanship that’s inherent in mutual concessions and applaud them for setting a good example. Call me a suck, but I still subscribe to the old adage, “it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” And I think this was well-played.
Loughry: Totally good-good with the good-good move. Its their match and it was cool it went to the 18th hole, providing a little more drama and excitement. The make rate from 4 feet for their calibre of play is extremely high, so chances are this show of sportsmanship between the two made no difference in the end. I would have done the same in their shoes, with one reservation, if I had watched my opponent miss a few knee knockers earlier in the match/week, I might contemplate not granting the putt.
Schurman: Concessions can happen at any time and have at times been used as a ploy. I’m not a fan of either. If a player has to resort to mind-games, are they showing their own weakness? This was an amateur tournament played for glory. Try asking Sam Snead or Ben Hogan to give you something in a two-dollar Nassau.
Rule: The “good-good” situation is a tough one in match play, especially when it’s late in a match. I don’t think it should ever happen late in a match because the person who suggests it is just putting his/her opponent in a tough spot. Those putts were a little longer than tap ins, especially given the pressure of the situation, so they should have putted them. And if I’m Gough, I’m putting them out for sure since my team is trailing and we need all the points we can get. And well, it ended up biting him in the you know what. All in all though, it was a great event at an iconic course, and made for good tv.
Quinn: The last “good good” I was offered, we were both off the green. It was so funny, had to accept. Have to go with what the players felt and what they decided. This wasn’t the opening hole. These guys had been at it for hours and they knew each others’ games. Good on them.
Mumford: One of our former writers was notorious for the good-good call when you had a two-footer and he still had a ten-footer. Nice try Ian. I don’t have any issues with the way the lads handled the call in the Walker Cup. Faced with a similar situation, I might not have been so generous though. A four-foot putt is anything but automatic for my group.
