Jacko_G
Blackballed
Not forgetting Fitzpatrick was dreadful in the last Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup European Wild Cards
- Thread starter mhwgc
- Start date
Few mentions of Knox. Comfortable on the US PGA and got a lot of qualifying points in the bag. Maybe a better shout than some of the rookie nearly men.
Wilson
Head Pro
He’s got to pick Wallace after than win today, and the season he’s had, surely? I think Poulter will get a pick, as will Stenson if he says he’s fit enough, I can’t see Garcia being anywhere close - that leaves the last pick between RCB and Casey, neither have set the world on fire the last few weeks, so it’ll be down to who Bjorn thinks will be better suited to the Team.
If I was Bjorn, I want Stenson to confirm he’s fit enough to play, the last thing you want is to carry an injured player, if he’s not fit enough I’d take Casey and RCB.
If I was Bjorn, I want Stenson to confirm he’s fit enough to play, the last thing you want is to carry an injured player, if he’s not fit enough I’d take Casey and RCB.
Grant85
Head Pro
Casey gives a very strange answer when asked on Sky about the Ryder Cup.
Basically spends his answer talking about the Fed Ex cup and how his focus is locking up a place at the Tour championship.
And then at the end says ‘I obviously want to be a part of the Ryder Cup’.
Basically spends his answer talking about the Fed Ex cup and how his focus is locking up a place at the Tour championship.
And then at the end says ‘I obviously want to be a part of the Ryder Cup’.
Wilson
Head Pro
Knox is a funny one, he goes under the radar, and with a win at the Irish, and his 2nd in Paris, you’d think he’d be right in the mix, but he doesn’t seem to be discussed much.
Cant see him in the picture at all. You have to see the level of fields he is competing against to put value on the wins. RCB is playing, if not exactly pushing for the top, nevertheless against the best so the level that will be encountered in the RC.
RCB a cert for me.
Poults probably. Casey probably also.
Stenson unless any injury concerns.
I think I would go for Knox as the only other one to really be in Bjorn's mind even though he will have to name check Wallace in the announcement to soften the blow (such a hard decision, one for the future, three time winner shows the level of competition for places, how strong the team is, etc).
Grant85
Head Pro
Wallace is still miles down the list, despite the wins.
Ok, he’s in a bit of form but doesn’t mean he can live with DJ, Reed, Koepka, Tiger, Bryson etc. It’s a different level from what he’s been playing against most weeks in Europe.
Not saying he wouldn’t be able to contribute, just putting his performances into context.
Knox, RCB, Fitzpatrick, Pepperell all ahead of him in Euro list plus Casey, Poulter, Garcia ahead of him on the world list. Stenson about level with him on both.
Ok, he’s in a bit of form but doesn’t mean he can live with DJ, Reed, Koepka, Tiger, Bryson etc. It’s a different level from what he’s been playing against most weeks in Europe.
Not saying he wouldn’t be able to contribute, just putting his performances into context.
Knox, RCB, Fitzpatrick, Pepperell all ahead of him in Euro list plus Casey, Poulter, Garcia ahead of him on the world list. Stenson about level with him on both.
MendieGK
Tour Winner
That’s my view. 3 wins is amazing and you can only beat who is in front of you. But to have 3 wins and be that far down proves the quality of the field must have been very low
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I'll guess at Poulter, Stenson, Garcia & either one of Pieters/Casey (can't quite decide on a guess for that last spot) Ok I'm gonna go with Casey for final spot
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Grant85
Head Pro
Some other stats on Matt Wallace.
Wallace is 17th on the Race 2 Dubai - having played 22 events. Everyone ahead of him has played fewer events, including Knox (8th on 7 events), Rafa (10th on 16 events) and Pepperell (15th on 17 events).
There is no one inside the top 50 who has played more than 22 (one other guy on 22) with the average probably being around the 15 / 16 mark.
For me, that's further vindication that Wallace is not yet an outstanding player, and there are far better options. He looks like the type of guy who, when he is on it - he can do well, but there's a lot of mediocrity in there through the season with only 1 other top 10 (next to the 3 wins) over the 22 events.
How do you pick Wallace (17th on 22 events) and not Knox (8th on 7 events) who finished 2nd in Paris? There's a big big difference in golfing ability there, if you ask me.
Wallace is 17th on the Race 2 Dubai - having played 22 events. Everyone ahead of him has played fewer events, including Knox (8th on 7 events), Rafa (10th on 16 events) and Pepperell (15th on 17 events).
There is no one inside the top 50 who has played more than 22 (one other guy on 22) with the average probably being around the 15 / 16 mark.
For me, that's further vindication that Wallace is not yet an outstanding player, and there are far better options. He looks like the type of guy who, when he is on it - he can do well, but there's a lot of mediocrity in there through the season with only 1 other top 10 (next to the 3 wins) over the 22 events.
How do you pick Wallace (17th on 22 events) and not Knox (8th on 7 events) who finished 2nd in Paris? There's a big big difference in golfing ability there, if you ask me.
Lets not forget that the qualifying period isn't just for 3 comp wins. It runs for quite a while. Why set up a qualifying period and then totally ignore it when it comes to the wild cards. At least use it to gauge who should be looked at. And in doing so I wouldn't say yes to Wallace ahead of Fitzpatrick or Pepperell.
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
^^^^^ This with Pieters over Casey
bernix
Challenge Tour Pro
unlike the american side where the WCs are quite obvious no european player who is not automatically qualified has really forced himself on the team. personally i'd go for
Pouter, Rafa, Pieters and Knox with Casey just missing out
Pouter, Rafa, Pieters and Knox with Casey just missing out
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Yeah for Garcia I just wonder why he didn't play at the weekend so my thinking is that its absolutely plausible that he (& Stenson) already know if they’re in.
That would mean it’s already decided if it’s a yes or no for him and for me the balance has to fall on a yes (why say a definitive no to him last week if Garcia could still have played/won at the weekend) and surely if he was still undecided last week Bjorn would’ve said to him, play this one and show me where you are
(probably totally off the mark but its fun to surmise)
D
Deleted member 18588
Guest
Maybe because that is the point of wild cards.
Enabling the Captain to select players who might be showing form at the right time.
Otherwise it would be a case of just naming the top 12 on the rankings and that could include those that started the qualifying period well but are now out of form.
Personally I would be OK with Wallace being named. He certainly seems to have something about him rather than just being a journeyman which, I am afraid, is how I see the likes of Knox, Pepperell and Fitzpatrick.
Grant85
Head Pro
I think having 4 wild cards is bad for the team in the long run.
Means some of the top guys don't have to bust themselves to qualify as they will have a good chance of a pick.
And makes it more difficult for rookies to qualify, meaning every so often you will get a team with a LOT of rookies in it.
I guess the Fed Ex cup kinda skews things as it seems that guys are just not pulling out of that event under any circumstances to play some Euro events at this stage in the season. also doesn't help that the Czech Open and the Made in Denmark aren't exactly big events - but I guess ET are deciding not to bother competing with the big bucks and are leaving their marquee events as the Rolex events early in the season, before the Open and at the end of the season.
I heard Rafa saying that if he'd been exempt for the top 70 event on the Fed Ex cup, he would have played in Denmark. Which maybe is a white lie, but shows that he doesn't really feel a lot of pressure to change his schedule and everyone is pretty much following the money. If it had been 2 picks and Rafa had only needed a few thousand Euros to make the team, then it may have been a different decision.
Means some of the top guys don't have to bust themselves to qualify as they will have a good chance of a pick.
And makes it more difficult for rookies to qualify, meaning every so often you will get a team with a LOT of rookies in it.
I guess the Fed Ex cup kinda skews things as it seems that guys are just not pulling out of that event under any circumstances to play some Euro events at this stage in the season. also doesn't help that the Czech Open and the Made in Denmark aren't exactly big events - but I guess ET are deciding not to bother competing with the big bucks and are leaving their marquee events as the Rolex events early in the season, before the Open and at the end of the season.
I heard Rafa saying that if he'd been exempt for the top 70 event on the Fed Ex cup, he would have played in Denmark. Which maybe is a white lie, but shows that he doesn't really feel a lot of pressure to change his schedule and everyone is pretty much following the money. If it had been 2 picks and Rafa had only needed a few thousand Euros to make the team, then it may have been a different decision.
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
I’d love to see the picks as the following
Pieters
Poulter
Stenson
RCB
Garcia is so out of form since he changed to Callaway. custom fit that lol
Casey is a choker so no ta
Pieters
Poulter
Stenson
RCB
Garcia is so out of form since he changed to Callaway. custom fit that lol
Casey is a choker so no ta
JPLon
Newbie
Poulter
RCB
Pieters
Casey
for me..in that order. That said I wouldn't have any issues with Stenson getting the pick ahead of Casey
RCB
Pieters
Casey
for me..in that order. That said I wouldn't have any issues with Stenson getting the pick ahead of Casey
UlyssesSky
Head Pro
Grant85
Head Pro
Folks, I would be absolutely amazed if Garcia is picked.
If he was keen to play he would 100% have played in Denmark last week. He was hitting the ball well enough at Wyndham and got to double figures under par, so would surely have felt confident about going to Denmark with a weakish field and having a good week.
I actually reckon it is likely Bjorn would have asked him if he was playing in Denmark and he has told Bjorn he doesn't want a pick and is going to have time off to spend with his family and work on his game prior to Turkey / SA / Dubai.
If he was keen to play he would 100% have played in Denmark last week. He was hitting the ball well enough at Wyndham and got to double figures under par, so would surely have felt confident about going to Denmark with a weakish field and having a good week.
I actually reckon it is likely Bjorn would have asked him if he was playing in Denmark and he has told Bjorn he doesn't want a pick and is going to have time off to spend with his family and work on his game prior to Turkey / SA / Dubai.
