“If my team needed a quarterback and I drafted a running back I’d be in big trouble”, said Love, who was captain when Europe staged their stunning comeback victory in the “Miracle of Medinah” four years ago. “We have another tough decision coming up in two week”. “We’re really confident in them”.
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Holmes finished 10th in the Ryder Cup standings and is one of the few active Americans to have never lost in the event. Fowler was 11th and Kuchar 12th.
The Campbellsville, Kentucky, native is 10th in total PGA tour points and has two top-five finishes in majors this season, including a career-best third-place finish at the British Open in July.
On the eve of his Masters defence in 2015 a website poll of more than 100 players on the PGA Tour identified Watson as the most unpopular on the circuit.
Of the 11 players on the US team at this point, only Koepka is a Ryder Cup rookie. “We know how to handle it, how to deal with it”, Love said.
Of Kuchar, Love said: “Great attitude for match play”.
Now listed at seventh in the world, Watson is the highest-ranked player from either America or Europe not yet selected for the biennial US -vs. “From those things, I hope that great things come and I hope this is the year we can experience triumph”.
There is one spot remaining for the United States team at the 2016 Ryder Cup, and according to Matt Kuchar, it could potentially go to Tiger Woods. “The Ryder Cup is a whole different animal, and I’m looking forward to that opportunity”. “I was just with Bill Belichick last week, so we’re going to grind it out”.
Kuchar is another who brings a losing record (4-5-2) to Minnesota, but, um, he’s very good at ping pong, which is the main game inside the American team room. Holmes has played in one other Ryder Cup, and it was a resounding success.
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.
“It stinks to have to be picked as this is my first time and it’s not a pleasant”, said the 38-year-old.
Now that Fowler is confirmed, I expect Love will pick Watson for the last place, with Jim Furyk the only obvious alternative, unless someone comes from nowhere in the next fortnight.
“I really am thrilled to be part of this”, Kuchar added.
Holmes has had a mixed bag in the big events. After posting top-10s in his next two starts, Fowler has just four top-10s in 17 starts since.
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Bubba silence: You have to be careful these days trying to parse the utterings of Love, who noted he spent time with famously lock-jawed New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
