“These three guys are who we really all wanted”, said Love – the captain for the last Ryder Cup on USA soil at Medinah in 2012, when Europe pulled off a remarkable fightback to claim victory. “We’re going to learn from our mistakes in the past and build on it”.
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Love’s final captain’s selection will be made on September 25 during halftime of NBC’s National Football League telecast and just a few hours after the conclusion of the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, the final leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Watson, a two-time Masters champion, is not in the best of form but at no.7 in the world is the highest ranked player available to Love, as well as the highest points scorer of those not automatically qualified. The other two picks were Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes.
Love plans to do the same this time around with Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson. He was a member of the 2008 United States team that took home the crown from the Valhalla course in Louisville, Kentucky – which is also the last time the US was crowned champions.
Fowler, for example, has struggled this year and has an 0-3-5 record in his two Ryder Cups. For me to make this team, I can’t wait to make amends and try to bring the cup home.
Holmes, 34, has only played in one Ryder Cup previously, helping the U.S. to victory in 2008.
Watson could yet feature at Hazeltine, with the 12th and final member of the American line-up to be confirmed after next week’s Tour Championship – just a handful of days before the Ryder Cup gets under way. Of the 11 players on the US team at this point, only Koepka is a Ryder Cup rookie.
“I’ve been on a lot of teams with Matt (Kuchar)”.
Kuchar, 38, who is renowned for his consistency from tee to green and an uncanny ability to grind out top-10 finishes, has featured in the last three Ryder Cups. 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. The left-hander is one of a handful of American hopefuls to make the PGA Tour’s season finale next week at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Love refused to rule Furyk out, although most outside observers reckon there’s no chance of him playing, despite the historic 58 he shot at The Travelers Championship. “There’s going to be a lot of stats and a lot of things to look at”. These three guys are who we all really wanted. “It’s going to be pretty fantastic getting to play in front of a home crowd”. I don’t envy Davis’ position.
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Missed out on qualifying for the Tour Championship this season, but all the players and captains like him, he carries a good, positive attitude, and there’s little question he would be a good fit with any team.
