US Ryder Cup team selections (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***)

[BURKMI19]

1 minute ago, Pudgelewis said:

 

Harmon was 3rd in points, wasn't he? Not one you can blame or praise ZJ for, I'm afraid. Hope he plays well, though.

I'm sorry my bad there, I meant Sam Burns.  I had just looked at Harmon's name before typing the previous message.  Nice catch mate.

[Ghost of Snead]

47 minutes ago, Gareth said:

Goodness knows how Sam Burns was picked ahead of Lucas Glover or Keegan Bradley……

 

This help ? 

 

Why this budding bromance could be formidable Presidents Cup pairing (golf.com)

[woahnelly]

19 minutes ago, Choclab said:

Think of all the times the last few months when the talking heads said things like, "Well we know Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson is watching this closely..."

 

Either he wasn't watching, or he didn't care what he saw.  He was going to pick the big "safe" names anyway.

 

 

 

Media hogwash. ZJ spending more time at the Spa than sweating over his selections. 

[golfheaven69]

7 minutes ago, BURKMI19 said:

I'm thrilled to see Koepka get picked, it would have been disappointing to see the LIV - PGA thing get in the way of a legitimate player on the US roster.  Now, I believe this is a really well put together team of guys who, if they can find the fairway will do fine over in Rome.  My only "wow" was Harmon, I legitimately didn't expect him.  But in the perspective of pairings, I do think this is a good 12 group of players.

Nope, hope Koepka loses every match and Johnson has to defend his decision constantly.  

[Ghost of Snead]

23 minutes ago, JDTex said:

I’m kind of surprised ZJ just didn’t go ahead and pick Smylie Kaufman too. 🤣

 

Didn't have to - Smylie will be in the Team Room as much as the players.

[m d g]

1 hour ago, jaffabell said:

It's not just based on who has played well the last few weeks. If we knew better we would be playing golf for a living and counting stacks of cash, but we aren't.

 

I've never been a fan of this kind of argument. You don't have to be in the business or even necessarily an acknowledged expert to have a valid opinion.

 

Experts are often wrong.

[Albatross Dreamer]

I dunno if it's a good thing when the "heart and soul" is the player in the worst form. If he really wanted him there could have made him an assistant captain. ZJ better really hope JT finds his form, since if he gets smoked in his first match gonna be chaos. Woulda taken Finau, Glover or Bradley over JT

[Albatross Dreamer]

29 minutes ago, khalespace said:

I think hanging out with Michael Jordan, and all of the gambling associate with it, is seen negatively.

Because Tiger is such a model of positive life choices? At least MJ can drive a car.

[Ronnie Mundt]

33 minutes ago, 3whacker said:

Im as big a USA homer as anyone, but the way this team was picked leaves a real bad taste , I realize the #12 guy is on the bubble but Cam Young got the royal shaft..going forward its going to be real hard to root for JT

Finau has won 4 times in 13 months and Young got the shaft? I’d like to know what Finau got then…

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Fine with the JT pick but neither he nor Spieth should play 5 matches. And after looking at overall numbers it seems like a coin flip between Keegan and Burns. I probably would have taken Keegan but I don't think it makes or breaks the team. 

 

I would have liked to see Cameron Young on the team but that's a tough ask for a rookie. 

Edited August 29, 2023 by TLUBulldogGolf

[Putter Addict]

What a joke. I think I will skip watching this. These picks are extremely disappointing. I feel for Glover.

 

I am sure Zach will be heartbroken that I won't be watching 😀

 

[Albatross Dreamer]

Just now, Ronnie Mundt said:

Finau has won 4 times in 13 months and Young got the shaft? I’d like to know what Finau got then…

Finau is also one of the most beloved players on tour, which kinda crosses out making that argument for JT.

[3whacker]

8 minutes ago, Ronnie Mundt said:

Finau has won 4 times in 13 months and Young got the shaft? I’d like to know what Finau got then…

I am looking at the points list. Finau has a legit gripe, as does Lucas Glover if we are talking wins

[Duct Tape]

7 minutes ago, Putter Addict said:

What a joke. I think I will skip watching this. These picks are extremely disappointing. I feel for Glover.

 

I am sure Zach will be heartbroken that I won't be watching 😀

 

As will the rest of us…

[gvogel]

1 hour ago, SheriffBooth said:

JT and Burns over Cam Young and Keegan Bradley are problematic to me.  No issue with the other selections.  To me Glover's one hot month was way overshadowed by a year of missed majors and cuts.

No way JT should have been picked.  By any measure he has had a terrible year, and is currently struggling.  He should have been urged to stay away from the Ryder Cup and start worrying about his form in January or February.  That would have been the right thing to do.

[subrew]

Based on an IG story, looks like Peter Finch will be releasing a video tomorrow of a course vlog from Marco Simone.  

[King_Slender]

1 hour ago, kmbean said:

Zach Johnson doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.  

 

Corey Pavin vibes.

[Louis_Posture]

Zach said in in press conference that due to the hilly Rome, Italy golf course players and caddies will get tired. 

[chillybilly]

1 hour ago, jaffabell said:

Tony trends at the wrong time, he just hasn't performed this year in the big events. He has just been... good.

 

I understand he competes (in the literal sense) nearly every week and everyone gushes about what a nice fella he is but nice just doesn't always work out in the RC. He always seems like he'd want to give the opponent half of his sandwich.

 

It would be one thing if JT were in a bit of a lull but he seems lost at sea at present and is saying as much. It's all well and good to have the Three Amigos on the team but the 'lot of time, lot of energy' Zach Johnson is citing seems to have gone towards following/reinforcing the conventional wisdom. A captain hell-bent on victory might have taken multiple dark horses but horses that were rounding into form. I support, for example, the Burns pick (easy enough to do).

 

I like/enjoy the RC for what it is - match play by the biggest names in a team event. I don't like/enjoy what surrounds it - the drunken louts (fans, that is, not players), the NBC-fueled jingoism.

 

I'm sure I'm not the first to say it but it seems odd that so much discussion, debate etc. on the pro tours surround the RC which is, after all, mostly an exhibition. In a way I'm glad that something that doesn't involve a money grab (unless you're the PGA counting the endless number of ad breaks during the telecast) is such a hot topic but it's still an odd contrast.

 

  

9 minutes ago, King_Slender said:

 

Corey Pavin vibes.

 

Wait til Mrs Johnson breaks out the Sun Mountain 'waterproofs.'

 

 

I can't necessarily fault the inclusion of Koepka but he has to know that the tour schism will be beaten into the ground (not that it hasn't already). Can he get along, can be be a teammate blah blah blah.

 

He will probably do his best Nathan Thurm. 'I know that. Don't you think I know that? I'm on the team. Is it me? It's him, right?'

 

 

Edited August 29, 2023 by chillybilly

[Ghost of Snead]

Just now, Louis_Posture said:

Zach said in in press conference that due to the hilly Rome, Italy golf course players and caddies will get tired. 

 

They'll be fine - if they can walk ANGC, they can walk anywhere.

[King_Slender]

1 minute ago, Louis_Posture said:

Zach said in in press conference that due to the hilly Rome, Italy golf course players and caddies will get tired. 

 

They just played Whistling Straits - doubtful it's more up and down.

[Looper34]

Taking JT after the horrible year he's had is ridiculous. The fix was in.

[Putter Addict]

This now feels like the All-Star game where they want it both ways; an exhibition but with big stakes.

 

If it is just going to be a popularity contest and treated as an exhibition, then fine. Dismantle the ridiculous task force and just go back to how it was 10+ years ago.

[Duct Tape]

6 minutes ago, chillybilly said:

 

 

I like/enjoy the RC for what it is - match play by the biggest names in a team event. I don't like/enjoy what surrounds it - the drunken louts (fans, that is, not players), the NBC-fueled jingoism.

100%

 

6 minutes ago, chillybilly said:

I'm sure I'm not the first to say it but it seems odd that so much discussion, debate etc. on the pro tours surround the RC which is, after all, mostly an exhibition. In a way I'm glad that something that doesn't involve a money grab (unless you're the PGA counting the endless number of ad breaks during the telecast) is such a hot topic but it's still an odd contrast.

 

 

Also agree, Well done. 

 

 

[FriedEgg]

6 minutes ago, Looper34 said:

Taking JT after the horrible year he's had is ridiculous. The fix was in.

 

Not that it matters, but lost some respect for him not taking his name out of the mix.

[King_Slender]

JT has to pull out of that tournament in 2 weeks, right?  There's no way they can risk him missing a cut there - would be a media nightmare.

[j.b.newton]

@King_Slender I hope he does miss the cut, just to see even more talking heads explode and try to figure out a narrative...  😈

[King_Slender]

1 minute ago, j.b.newton said:

@King_Slender I hope he does miss the cut, just to see even more talking heads explode and try to figure out a narrative...  😈

 

I can already write the story: "Despite missing the cut, Thomas said he felt his game rounding into form and these two rounds were just enough to work the kinks our before Rome. " 

[munichop]

A lot can change in 2 years.  The previous RC Eamon Lynch pointed out the Europeans were off form with 3 guys in the top 15 in the world.  Now they have 6.  The US has 8 so pretty close there.  Finau was one of the few bright spots in France on a course that will be similar in setup.   He isn't there.  So much of the RC is about clutch putting  yet putting seems a non factor in the picks.  People forget after Spieth hit he miracle recovery on the par 3 JT missed the put at WS.  I would be surprised if the 30 year away streak is ended with this team...

[Putter Addict]

2 minutes ago, King_Slender said:

 

I can already write the story: "Despite missing the cut, Thomas said he felt his game rounding into form and these two rounds were just enough to work the kinks our before Rome. " 

As long as he dramatically falls to the ground after a near hole out, it will show that he really cares and that is all that matters.