Ahead of this week’s Tour Championship, nine Americans made a quick visit to the midwest, but only six of them – Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Jimmy Walker – are actually on the team.
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Spieth, the 2015 FedEx Cup champion, said helping the US wrest back the Ryder Cup from Europe would mean more to him than adding another multi-million dollar cheque to his bank balance. You want what you don’t have. “And that’s a trophy that I’ve watched the other side of it now, and it hurt”, Spieth added. Spieth feels whoever performs best in the PGA Tour tournament, which starts on Thursday, has the best chance to suit up for the USA team in Hazeltine against Europe next week. Next weekend, the Texan is likely to play a key role as the United States look to turnaround a dismal recent Ryder Cup run.
The Texan said yesterday that determination to avoid a repeat was driving the Americans as they prepared for this year’s tussle at Hazeltine. “It was tough at the closing ceremony”. We want to know what it feels like to celebrate and spray champagne off the balcony’.
“I think a lot is going to hinge on this week, and this is right at the 11th hour”. “I’ve got an opportunity now to make it still potentially one of the top couple of seasons that anyone had this year if we take care of business this week and next week”.
U.S. captain Davis Love III has one more captain’s pick to confirm, a decision which will be made on Sunday night after the conclusion of the Tour Championship.
Spieth played the first day with US PGA champion Jimmy Walker and then on the second with three players hoping to get the final wildcard on Sunday: Bubba Watson, Daniel Berger and Justin Thomas.
Spieth has particular sympathy for twice Masters champion Watson, the world number seven.
“Bubba didn’t seem upset about anything”.
“I couldn’t imagine being in his position”, said Spieth. It was tough, but I’ll have more chances.
Spieth knows the pressure that comes with playing in a Ryder Cup, but the likes of Thomas, Watson and Berger have also had to deal with the pressure of having to do enough to convince Love to pick them in the team.
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“We want whoever’s playing the best to be the last pick”, he said.
