Once the eight automatic qualifiers were determined, he selected Ricky Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and former Kentucky Wildcat J.B. Holmes as captain’s picks.
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“There were questions as late as last night”, Love said Monday morning.
Watson has won two Masters titles but his tied eighth place at the Olympics is his only top ten finish since March.
Holmes is on the US team for the second time, being a part of the last American side to win the biennial matches against Europe in 2008.
United States skipper Davis Love named his first three wildcards on Monday without the unpopular world No 7. “After Switzerland I just feel I’m playing well enough to win golf tournaments again – and winning would be ideal prep anyway”. It was a tough decision.
“We have a long two weeks ahead of us for the final pick”, said Love. “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 filled incredible roles, a lot of different roles”.
Davis Love III is rounding out his team.
Fowler, who had been considered a near-certainty to earn a pick after missing out on automatic selection, has played in two previous Ryder Cups on European turf but will now make his home debut in the event. “He’s consistent, and he’s been on a winning Ryder Cup team before in the past”.
“It stinks to have to be picked as this is my first time and it’s not a pleasant”, said the 38-year-old.
This will obviously never happen because Woods has not played in a tournament in over a year, but it was still pretty weird and I guess humorous that Kuchar tossed it out there.
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III speaks a t a news conference last month.
“I’ve been saying all along, we’re a sports team and we have to draft the right player for the right position”, Love said. “But gosh, imagine that, Tiger Woods playing for Team USA, being a captain”, Kuchar deadpanned. Not just what matches they’re going to play, but where on the list. Ryder Cup merchandise shop; 24,200 sq. ft. media center; a members’ tent that will accommodate Hazeltine National Golf Club Members; numerous PGA partner and vendor tents; and the event’s opening and closing ceremonies.
“We went through a lot of scenarios, we talked about a lot of great players”. I get to make three fun phone calls yesterday, and one more fun phone call.
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No, it will be either Bubba or Jim Furyk, the old warhorse who, like Bubba, has a disgusting Ryder Cup record but is considered a gamer and a grinder and is well-respected in the American team room.
