My Best Guesses at the Ryder Cup Picks

Although the Deutsche Bank doesn't end until later nowadays, I'm going to take a shot at choosing every Ryder Cup captain's selections. We'll see how properly I do while the real choices are made on Tuesday.

The Ryder Cup itself

Let's begin with the European Team on account that, to be honest, I think Paul McGinley's alternatives are quite clean.

There was a lot of drama over whether Stephen Gallacher could oust Graeme McDowell out of the final qualifying spot this week, but that was nothing but smoke. Paul McGinley's NOT an idiot! Gallacher has been playing too well and has too good a record at Gleneagles for McGinley to leave him off the team. Likewise, McDowell couldn't defend his position because he was off welcoming his new little girl into the world. Regardless of who got the spot, the other was going to make the team.

Likewise, I don't see Ian Poulter being left off the team. Poults has been injured for much of the year and is just finally healing up. His play is still a bit sporadic but he's got a month to get his game back in shape... including this week, since he made the secondary cut at Deutsche Bank.

So the only real question is the third spot, which is pretty much between Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. While both have struggled somewhat this year, McGinley needs another experienced player in the team room and doesn't have another standout rookie who might be worth the gamble. And if he has to gamble on a veteran, I think it will be Lee Westwood . Westwood was beginning to show some form near the end of the PGA Tour season while Donald has continued to struggle. Simply put, it's not the best of ideas to make swing changes in a Ryder Cup year and Donald is a classic example of why.

Over at the American side, I assume Tom Watson reveals himself in a piece of a pickle, albeit a satisfied one. Several of the American gamers have responded to Tom's venture to step up and galvanize him. Without seeing how they carry out these days in the very last round at Deutsche Bank, I'll have to make some real guesses.

In my opinion, there's one clear choice: Keegan Bradley . Despite the ridiculous amount of pressure Bradley has put on himself -- which I'm sure Tom actually likes -- Keegan has managed to step up his play over the last few weeks. And given how much Phil needs him (yes, I said it -- Phil NEEDS Keegan), I don't think Tom can ignore him. Since he's at #13 in points anyway, I think he's a no-brainer.

The other alternatives are not so clean to me. Here are those (with their factors rating) I assume nonetheless have a danger, together with their current Deutsche Bank position in parentheses:

  • 12: Brendon Todd (MC)
  • 14: Chris Kirk (3)
  • 15: Webb Simpson (6)
  • 18: Ryan Palmer (T7)
  • 24: Gary Woodland (T56)
  • 25: Hunter Mahan (T67)
  • 27: Kevin Streelman (T7)
  • 28: Bill Haas (T11)
  • 33: Russell Henley (1)
  • 35: Billy Horschel (2)
Right now I'm leaning toward Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan . The reason is that these two have been playing the most consistently good golf over the last month or so. In addition, Hunter made 3 of 4 major cuts (missed the US Open) while Bill has made all 4 plus THE PLAYERS. In fact, Haas hasn't missed a cut all year (he did have a WD early on) and if he wins today, I'm sure he's in. Both have great driving, GIR, and putting stats. And though Mahan is struggling a bit this week, I'm not so surprised the week after a win.

As some distance as the other gamers pass, no person else has been able to put properly weeks together. (That's why Ryan Moore dropped off my listing. Despite his fit play report, his ratings indicate that he may additionally have peaked more than one months too early.) And I assume the only one in all them who's performed "nicely enough" recently to benefit from a win today might be Webb Simpson, who would in all likelihood take Bill's spot considering that the only strike towards Bill is a negative displaying at this 12 months's Accenture Match Play. (And sure, "nicely enough" is a relative time period. Webb has neglected the reduce each other week for the final couple of months, but he published quite precise finishes on the cuts he made.)

So there you have got my picks. For the Euros:

  1. Stephen Gallacher
  2. Ian Poulter
  3. Lee Westwood
And for the Americans:

  1. Keegan Bradley
  2. Bill Haas
  3. Hunter Mahan
Tomorrow we'll see how I did!

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