Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes have been named as United States’ Ryder Cup captain’s picks by Davis Love.
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Because Woods, Love’s stats man as a vice captain, has not hit a ball in competition since last year’s Wyndham Championship and said only recently he hoped to mount his latest comeback from injury at the Safeway Open next month.
They join automatic qualifiers Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker.
Fowler, who has yet to win a Ryder Cup point in eight attempts, was probably the most relieved to hear from Love after flying to his Florida home disappointed at his performance at the BMW.
Holmes was one of the stars the last time the U.S. beat Europe back in 2008 and Fowler is a world-class talent, playing his first home Ryder Cup.
“This is my first team I’ve required a pick and it’s not a pleasant position to be in”, Kuchar said.
“Like JB he is consistent and easy to pair”.
Bubba Watson is the obvious choice for the final member of Team USA for the Ryder Cup.
Team USA is nearly complete after Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes were named wildcards for the event at Hazeltine, which runs from September 30 to October 2.
“We’re very confident in them and we’re excited that we have our 11 players now and we can move on”.
Regardless, if the 12 were already decided and Watson didn’t make that cut, then it only mattered if the nine-time PGA Tour victor managed to play his way onto the team on points.
Love said there was strong debate and discussion with vice captains Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk late into the afternoon on Sunday before a consensus was finally reached, and those conversations will only increase before he chooses the final member of the team on September 25 after the Tour Championship. His Ryder Cup record is a less-than-stellar 0-4-4 but that such a small sample size that it could easily be fixed over the next two editions with good play. Love announced his picks Monday morning at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn., site of the Ryder Cup Sept. 30-Oct. 2. “We were really close (to the three wildcard picks) two weeks ago, but it took us until last night to finish it off”.
Fowler can point to a nine-tournament stretch that began at the Players Championship that led to his inability to qualify for the Tour Championship.
“The rest of them aren’t going to be any fun so, we’re prepared for that”. Bubba isn’t on the team because he hasn’t won this year, so maybe he’s testing him to see how much he wants it.
“There’s nothing I can do, ” Fowler said after finishing with an even-par 72; he was long gone as those on the golf course determined his fate.
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Europe has won the past three Ryder Cups, and six of the past seven.
