Here is a study the modern Ryder Cup standings going into the PGA Championship.
TIGER WOODS
Advanced Total Driving: 8th
Putts Gained: thirty ninth
Short Game Play: 70th
Birdie Zone: 115th
Safe Zone: fifteenth
Danger Zone: fifth
Obviously, Tiger goes to be at the group until a surprising harm forces him out. His ballstriking is a long way better than his critics provide him credit score for at this factor in time. However, what I saw from him on the British Open become nearly every shot become either a mentioned ?Played? Fade or a stinger which would draw a little. It tells me that he's afraid of missing left and at the same time as he can hit powerful photographs by going around the course and hitting said fades and stingers, it?S now not in which he is at his absolute first-class. However, it?S nonetheless outstanding what he can do even as not being at his absolute great.
I assume this Tiger works higher for the USA crew in the Ryder Cup due to the fact he can hit more secure shots. I do think we had been lacking those awesome photographs from Tiger that appeared to be the ones that handiest he could hit. I also think that the opposition just is not terrified of him anymore. We don?T see competition in the hunt on Sunday, only to shoot 78 and no longer even make it near. I assume his capability to hit those staggering pictures, his surreal Danger Zone play and setting, mixed together with his intimidation thing is why he gained Majors with Haney. He doesn?T have them now, but I think he?S a much higher all-around participant now than whilst he became beneath Haney and I think a good way to help the US crew come Medinah.
JASON DUFNER
Advanced Total Driving: 6th
Putts Gained: eighty fifth
Short Game Play: 4th
Birdie Zone: 41st
Safe Zone: thirteenth
Danger Zone: 32nd
He sorta worries me due to the fact he?S been the sort of player that legitimately performs remarkable on Tour, but come the Ryder Cup he struggles. Great ballstriker, but an average at nice putter. Plus, while he?S had a few massive conditions on Tour he has arise vulnerable some instances. If he can putt decent and manage the Ryder Cup stress, he?Ll be a key member of the crew. If not, he?Ll be some other Jim Furyk type.
BUBBA WATSON
Advanced Total Driving: 1st
Putts Gained: 159th
Short Game Play: eighth
Birdie Zone: 124th
Safe Zone: eighty fifth
Danger Zone: 4th
He hasn?T played a whole lot of tournaments this yr after triumphing the Masters. I do suppose that Medinah does permit him to play his sport and that?S a pleasant advantage for the US crew. But he?S any other suspect putter and his driving isn't always continually accurate and which could hamstring the team. As big of a increase or bust as the US crew has in a participant.
KEEGAN BRADLEY
Advanced Total Driving: sixteenth
Putts Gained: 15th
Short Game Play: 52nd
Birdie Zone: a hundred and tenth
Safe Zone: 96th
Danger Zone: 68th
Bradley has been gambling always nicely for maximum of this yr. His weak spot tends to be his iron sport, but he?S a exquisite driving force of the ball and for the maximum element has putted well this 12 months. If you could power it and putt it nicely, it generally continues you in the hunt on Tour. I think it works nicely inside the Ryder. Particularly due to the fact he hits it fairly lengthy and unearths a number of fairways, which might be splendid for a partner in exchange shot and useful in pleasant rating format.
WEBB SIMPSON
Advanced Total Driving: 138th
Putts Gained: 36th
Short Game Play: 38th
Birdie Zone: 6th
Safe Zone: 10th
Danger Zone: 12th
Last year, Simpson was one of these players who did almost everything properly. This 12 months his simplest real conflict has been with the motive force. Still, he was able to win the United States Open. He hits all of his irons from all distances thoroughly and he?S a seize putter.
ZACH JOHNSON
Advanced Total Driving: 29th
Putts Gained: 2nd
Short Game Play: 40th
Birdie Zone: 96th
Safe Zone: thirty fifth
Danger Zone: 96th
Johnson is greater of the kind that I would suppose could play well within the Ryder Cup and in his short time at the group has executed well. He?S no longer wild off the tee. He hits his irons properly. And he?S a notable putter and has a great quick recreation. He?S in all likelihood in, however I suppose he must be a captain?S choose if he doesn?T pretty qualify. This team wishes better setting.
MATT KUCHAR
Advanced Total Driving: 27th
Putts Gained: 42nd
Short Game Play: 88th
Birdie Zone: 64th
Safe Zone: twenty ninth
Danger Zone: ninth
He?S any other participant that ought to be a captain?S pick out if he occurs to simply leave out the top-eight. He?S not lengthy, however he hits the entirety properly and might putt. I suppose men like Zach and Kuchar are the types that could give the Euros extra problems than everyone else. Although I assume it might be sensible to split them up rather than pairing them together.
PHIL MICKELSON
Advanced Total Driving: 173rd
Putts Gained: 14th
Short Game Play: 35th
Birdie Zone: thirty first
Safe Zone: 131st
Danger Zone: 66th
He?Ll make the team due to the fact no captain desires to leave Mickelson off the team. Unfortunately, I think that?S wherein the Euros have the benefit as their captains aren't afraid to now not pick famous selections, like Colin Montgomerie now not choosing Justin Rose, Paul Casey or Sergio Garcia final year. My trouble with Phil is he?S a terrible Ryder Cup participant at 10-17-6. He had achievement on the 2008 Ryder Cup, however it seemed that he become being carried by way of his companions. If he qualifies, there?S not anything DL III can do. But if he doesn?T qualify, it would be great to see DL III make the tough desire.
HUNTER MAHAN
Advanced Total Driving: 3rd
Putts Gained: 92nd
Short Game Play: 80th
Birdie Zone: 137th
Safe Zone: 14th
Danger Zone:86th
Mahan?S sport is that he?S were given decent distance off the tee and is a splendid driving force of the ball. He?S a miles better putter than given credit score for, but his quick sport stinks. And what it boils down for him is how nicely he?S gambling from the Danger Zone. He?S been enormously common from the Danger Zone for most of his career. If he?S playing nicely from the Danger Zone, he doesn?T need to worry approximately getting up and down. If he?S playing poorly from the Danger Zone, then he?S were given some extreme troubles. If I were DL III I might focus closely on how nicely Hunter is playing from the Danger Zone up till he has to announce his selections as though he?S striking it well, he could be a precious member to the crew. If he makes the group anyway, then I would possibly favor him inside the low-rating layout. If I visit an change shot, I could try and get him to be the player who tees off on the lengthy par-4?S. He?S ranked t-fifty fifth in par-three scoring common which tells me he's pretty first rate from the tee container on par-3?S.
STEVE STRICKER
Advanced Total Driving: 73rd
Putts Gained: 56th
Short Game Play: 98th
Birdie Zone: 1st
Safe Zone: eleventh
Danger Zone: 1st
The problem with Stricker is he does now not play in loads of occasions and seeing that he won the Tournament of Champions, he cut down his schedule quite a chunk. So he need to be inside the pinnacle-eight if he had performed greater tournaments. I would nevertheless pair him up with Tiger and spot if the Euros can beat them.
JIM FURYK
Advanced Total Driving: 34th
Putts Gained: twenty first
Short Game Play: 34th
Birdie Zone: thirty eighth
Safe Zone: forty fourth
Danger Zone: 14th
Furyk is a difficult participant to stay away from due to the fact he has the game you want for a Ryder Cup player, a very predictable ballstriker and correct putter and chipper. But, he?S been horrific inside the Ryder Cup with a career report of 8-15-4. It would be difficult to put off on him together with his latest play, but that may be what wishes to manifest or they may must discover a higher participant to pair him up with.
RICKIE FOWLER
Advanced Total Driving: 42nd
Putts Gained: 140th
Short Game Play: 67th
Birdie Zone: 81st
Safe Zone: 43rd
Danger Zone: 67th
The parts I like approximately Fowler is he?S a excellent ballstriker, he?S young and while he?S on his ?A Game? He?S tough to overcome. He type of jogs my memory of Sergio, a first-rate Ryder Cup player, in that feel. However, he?S currently in what seems to be a official feud with Jason Dufner and I could no longer need a Sergio/Padraig in 2008 situation on my fingers if I turned into DL III. Particularly considering that I would value Dufner?S style of play within the Ryder Cup a ways extra than Fowler?S.
His play at Kiawah would particularly have an effect on my choice as I might need him while the iron is warm, in any other case I?Ll pass.
BRANDT SNEDEKER
Advanced Total Driving: 108th
Putts Gained: fifth
Short Game Play: 58th
Birdie Zone: 37th
Safe Zone: 52nd
Danger Zone: 121st
Very average motive force of the ball who does the whole thing extremely well from internal a hundred seventy five yards. Great putter who can roll it with the great of them. I would lean towards having him, despite the fact that is fall apart on the British Open would hassle me. While his Danger Zone play has been bad this season, it has taken a major soar these days and that does not encompass the British Open as ShotLink doesn?T document statistics for the majors. I?D be very keen on to how nicely he performs at Kiawah.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Advanced Total Driving: thirty eighth
Putts Gained: 66th
Short Game Play: 171st
Birdie Zone: 89th
Safe Zone: fortieth
Danger Zone: 11th
Could get in with a terrific showing at Kiawah due to the fact he?S generally a exquisite wind participant because he can hit low, difficult bullets. I could probable lean in opposition to him because he?S had such a difficult yr with the injuries and has by no means truly settled in and he?S an excessive amount of of a problem at the vegetables.
BO VAN PELT
Advanced Total Driving: 13th
Putts Gained: ninth
Short Game Play: 174th
Birdie Zone: 7th
Safe Zone: 17th
Danger Zone: 3rd
Statistics smart, he ought to be having a miles greater season than he's. He just has these almost inexplicable awful rounds and they often start off early on and placed him too some distance behind the 8-ball. If I were to pick him, I could be conscious that he may get off to a sluggish begin and certainly come round. I might in all likelihood have him play inside the 1st day and spot the way it goes from there.
With the standings right now, here are the pinnacle eight:
1 Tiger Woods
2 Jason Dufner
3 Bubba Watson
4 Keegan Bradley
five Webb Simpson
6 Zach Johnson
7 Matt Kuchar
8 Phil Mickelson
Here could be ?Captain?S alternatives? At the moment:
1. Steve Stricker
Too accurate of a player with too appropriate of an all-around game to bypass up. Probably could no longer be overpowered at Medinah and he and Tiger have a history of true play together.
2. Brandt Snedeker
Another awesome putter who would be an awesome pair with an amazing Danger Zone participant, ideally somebody long off the tee. I could see him and Dufner being a dominating duo.
Three. Bo Van Pelt
I assume the numbers tell me that he?S too precise (if now not incredible) to pass up. I would make certain to pair him up with a player that hits a variety of veggies and after they miss greens, they don?T pass over with the aid of a good deal. Short Game play and three-putting appear to be his simplest weaknesses. Another player that I assume might pair extraordinarily nicely with Jason Dufner or even Stricker or a Ben Curtis.
4. Ben Curtis
Another streaky participant, specifically due to his inconsistent ballstriking. But usually has been an awesome putter and has strong Ryder Cup revel in. Another guy that I could need to seize when he?S hot. I might also like to see how prepared he's for the Ryder Cup or if he just notion he didn?T have a chance to qualify and became no longer even considering it.
3JACK
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