The FedExCup finale teed off this morning at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, with the last Ryder Cup position up for grabs from Team USA captain Davis Love III.
Over a two-year period the top eight automatically qualified – Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker, and Zach Johnson.
Bubba Watson finished ninth, JB Holmes 10th, Rickie Fowler 11th, Matt Kuchar 12th, Scott Piercy 13th, Bill Haas 14th, Jim Furyk 15th, and Daniel Berger 16th.
Love, for some strange reason, named three of his four captain’s picks 11 days ago with Fowler, Holmes, and Kuchar, with the last selection scheduled for the completion of the FedExCup.
So how did Love overlook Bubba Watson who finished just one spot away from automatic selection, and was a Team USA member in the last three Ryder Cups in 2010, 2012, and 2014?
Even more so with Hazeltine, the Ryder Cup venue, is a long-hitters course, and there’s no denying Watson is high among the big hitters.
There are three powerful reasons why Watson should have been one of Love’s initial three picks.
But there are another four anti-selection reasons.
Watson hasn’t finished in the top 10 of any USPGA tournament since March, and one of the major reasons he’s ranked 164th in putting this season.
His track record in three Ryder Cups is hardly up to scratch with 3-8-0.
And he’s not the most popular fruit in the USPGA orchard.
So if Love remains anti-Watson, who will fill the final spot?
Love has two vice-captains he can call on – the ever-reliable Steve Stricker,and Jim Furyk – and the hero of the last Presidents Cup in South Korea – Bill Haas.
Stricker’s played in two Ryder Cups with a 3-3-1 record, Furyk in nine Cups with a 9-17-4 record.
But there’s a third vice-captain Love can call on – Tiger Woods.
Don’t laugh. Love and Woods are close mates, and one of my golf writing contacts in the USA reckons there’s more chance of the now 751st ranked golfer in the world who hasn’t played for a year playing rather than vice-captaining.
So what does that say about Davis Love III?
Does he listen to, and take notice of, his eight automatic qualifiers as to who will be named as captain’s picks, rather than the captain naming his own picks?
If it’s the former, it would be fair to say he will be a weak captain giving Team Europe the inside running, despite their six rookies.
Having said that, Bubba Watson would make it impossible for Love to leave him out if the leftie fires in the Tour Championship.
So the next four days at East Lake will be very interesting on so many fronts with the highest payout in golf of $US 10 million to the winner. $US 3 million for second down to $US 200,000 for 30th and last place.
Tour Championship first round – par 70:
4-under – Dustin Johnson, Kevin Chappell, Hideki Matsuyama.
3-under – Jason Day, Kevin Kisner, Si Woo Kim.
2-under – Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas.
1-under – Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar.
Even – Jhonathan Vegas, Ryan Moore.
2-over – Bubba Watson, Paul Casey, Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker/
3-over – Patrick Reed, Emiliano Grillo, Roberrto Castro, Russell Knox, Jason Dufner, JB Holmes.
4-over – Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker, Charl Schwartzel, Sean O’Hair, Daniel Berger.,
7-over – Kevin Na, William McGirt.
An “unshakeable” Scottie Scheffler has claimed his second Masters green jacket in three years, carding a four-under-par 68 to finish four shots clear of…
A day after setting a tournament record in the Masters, Tiger Woods has suffered an unwanted milestone at Augusta National. Woods insisted he could…
Tiger Woods is on the prowl for a sixth green jacket after penning another glorious chapter in his storied career with a record-breaking 24th…
Bryson DeChambeau has laid some demons to rest with a stunning back-nine birdie barrage to seize the first-round lead at the weather-hit Masters. The…
A year after being persona non grata at Augusta National, Australian golf legend Greg Norman is back at the Masters, declaring "the boss is…
Australian golf star Min Woo Lee has revealed he will play the Masters with a broken finger after suffering the freak injury in the…
