If you were hoping the new Ryder Cup selection process would lead to some unpredictability and fireworks with the wild-card picks added to the team, then you were probably somewhat disappointed by the three players USA captain Davis Love III named to his team on Monday. Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes and Matt Kuchar have previous Ryder Cup experience and were among the highest-ranked players not already on the team.
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Love said he and his vice-captains had agonised until late on Sunday before deciding on the three picks. “We found no weaknesses in his game, he’s such a great team-mate and is really confident on the big stage”. Daniel also has a kind of swagger about him which I really like, and I think he will be a strong player for the United States for many years to come.
The following week’s Barclays was the last qualifying event and Fowler was in good shape to make the team, only to falter on the last day and tie for seventh after holding the 54-hole lead. “There’s going to be a lot of stats and a lot of things to look at, but making our pairings, fitting in with the team, doing all the little things that you asked to do … these three guys [Fowler, Kuchar and Holmes] filled incredible roles, a lot of different roles”.
He obviously did great things at the Deutsche Bank and then went back to a course he had won on before, but he didn’t play to his usual standards and that will feel a foul taste.
Fowler, 27, has competed in two Ryder Cups before but has failed to win any of his eight matches. The choices lean heavily on Ryder Cup experience as the Americans go for their first win since 2008.
“I just said, don’t give away our secrets”, he joked.
Kuchar appeared alongside Fowler in the 2010 Ryder Cup team, taking the eighth and final merit position on the 12-man squad.
It means there is now no place on the team for two-time Masters champion and world No 7 Bubba Watson.
Kuchar brings some of the best play amongst the three captains picks, after winning the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2008, USA captain Paul Azinger allowed players to choose teammates as part of his “pod” system that broke the team into four-player groups, believing players would feel ownership and investment. The flamboyant left-hander’s form in recent months has been scratchy, while his Ryder Cup record (won three, lost eight, halved none) is poor.
But U.S. captain Davis Love III is banking on Fowler returning to form for at least three days – September 30-Oct.
“I am so happy to see how well he has thought this through”, Mickelson added. For me to make this team. I’ve been on a lot of teams with Matt.
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“It’s a challenge. I’m glad that it came out and it’s going to help me improve”.
