U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger announced this morning that he selected Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, J.B. Holmes and Chad Campbell to fill out the team that will compete against Europe in the matches that start Sept. 19. (Mr. Fairway correctly predicted Stricker, Mahan and Holmes.) “We’ve rounded off this team with the best possible players at this time,” he said. Azinger would not talk about players he did not choose but noted that Woody Austin and Rocco Mediate would have been good additions to a squad that will not include Tiger Woods. Azinger said he liked Stricker, winner of consecutive comeback players awards, and Holmes, the only captain’s pick to win a tournament this year, all along. Holmes, a long hitter, is from Kentucky and has played Valhalla hundreds of times. Azinger noted that not having Woods, who is still recovering from knee surgery, on the team is a big disappointment. Woods may visit Valhalla and Azinger will have an open phone line to him during the matches. Here is the U.S. lineup with their world rankings. R = rookie:
Phil Mickelson – 2
Stewart Cink – 7
Kenny Perry – 17
Jim Furyk – 13
Anthony Kim (R) – 16
Justin Leonard –24
Ben Curtis (R) – 32
Boo Weekley (R) – 33
Steve Stricker (R) – 10
Hunter Mahan (R) – 38
J.B. Holmes (R) – 52
Chad Campbell – 61
Stewart Cink – 7
Kenny Perry – 17
Jim Furyk – 13
Anthony Kim (R) – 16
Justin Leonard –24
Ben Curtis (R) – 32
Boo Weekley (R) – 33
Steve Stricker (R) – 10
Hunter Mahan (R) – 38
J.B. Holmes (R) – 52
Chad Campbell – 61
Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Buddy Gardner.
6 comments:
Excellent picking Mr. Fairway!
Three out of four, baby. Maybe Zinger needs another assistant captain.
Based on recent tour play and recent Ryder Cup competition, Harrington and Garcia have a decided edge on Michelson and Cink. If Philand Stewy can come close to holding their own, then steady play from the likes of Leonard, Curtis, Stricker, Perry and Furyk might result in a close competition. The team pairings for four ball and foursomes and the match ups will be very interesting. Lack of Ryder Cup experience may not be much of a disadvantage. Perry and Holmes may provide some fireworks with their power games. The 2008 Ryder Cup is shaping up to be one of the more interesting team competitions in the last ten years or more.
Good analysis, Markak. Can't wait to see how it plays out.
You and Zinger are both off. I will give you both Stricker, but the other three should have been Woody Austin, Rocco Mediate and Scott Verplank. Verplank has the only winning record in previous Ryder Cup matches (4-1) and that should count for something. There is already plenty of youth on the team, they need some guys who won't fold under pressure.
I can't disagree about Verplank and you notice the Mr. Fairway predicted Rocco, but he stunk it up the last few weeks. But Woody Austin, are you jokin' me? The guy couldn't putt a marble in a manhole. Aquaman was cute for the Presidents Cup but it's for Woody.
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