Orikoru
Tour Winner
Stick Rahm and Hatton together. Two most likely to lose their temper and explode so at least they won't put each other off!
Ryder Cup European Wild Cards
- Thread starter mhwgc
- Start date
Jacko_G
Blackballed
I see Hatton and Poulter as a pairing more than Rose and Poulter. Both Hatton and Poulter wear their emotions on the outside.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I don’t think Poulter works well with a rookie - saw that at Gleneagles , he seems to prefer to be the partner to come out of the shadows like he did with Rose a number of times and then with Rory - I think Hatton needs a calming influence and Molinari is ice calm
Grant85
Head Pro
will be interesting to see the pairings.
I like the potential for McIlroy & Rahm. Both aggressive players, and if they are both on it they could steam roller a few fourball matches. Not in foursomes though. I'm not sure Bjorn will go that way right enough.
Always find it a bit strange how many pairings are put together based on nationality. I understand these guys are often good friends and practice / travel together, but I imagine style of play is a bit more of an important consideration.
However, I personally would find it difficult to play with someone like Hatton. I find his temper tantrums dreadful to watch and really hate playing with someone like that. Rahm is similar, but Hatton much worse from what I've seen.
I like the potential for McIlroy & Rahm. Both aggressive players, and if they are both on it they could steam roller a few fourball matches. Not in foursomes though. I'm not sure Bjorn will go that way right enough.
Always find it a bit strange how many pairings are put together based on nationality. I understand these guys are often good friends and practice / travel together, but I imagine style of play is a bit more of an important consideration.
However, I personally would find it difficult to play with someone like Hatton. I find his temper tantrums dreadful to watch and really hate playing with someone like that. Rahm is similar, but Hatton much worse from what I've seen.
Jacko_G
Blackballed
I think USA have three stick ons as automatic "no brainer" picks.
DeChambeau, Tiger and Finau. Three great players who will really strengthen their team. Will big lefty Phil be the fourth?
DeChambeau, Tiger and Finau. Three great players who will really strengthen their team. Will big lefty Phil be the fourth?
Dan2501
Tour Winner
Called the fact DeChambeau would be in quite a few weeks ago, last nights win just confirms it, looking forward to seeing him pair up with Tiger. For me, I don't think Finau is a lock yet. Phil most definitely is a lock. Tiger, Phil and Bryson are locks - the 4th spot is up for grabs. As it stands it's looking likely it'll be the birdie-machine Finau but don't rule out Furyk picking Kuch.
Grant85
Head Pro
I personally would be surprised if this is not the 4.
Tiger has always been in since the Open and PGA results.
De Chambeau was always looking good, but guaranteed a spot yesterday.
Phil - form has been sketchy of late, but he still makes a lot of birdies. Maybe woludn't expect to see him play foursomes though.
Reckon these 3 will be announced in the 1st round of picks.
Finau obviously looks like the other obvious choice and always seems to be on the leaderboard in the big events. I think him being there is also important for the next Ryder Cup. Unlikely that Tiger and Phil will be there, no doubt a few others in the current top 8 will lose form or fitness, and so they should get a few rookies in while they have a very experienced line-up. Kuchar is the other player that may have been picked, had the wild cards been announced a few weeks ago.
The final spot will be picked after the conclusion of the Fed Ex Cup so it is possible that someone could show great form and make themselves a factor.
UlyssesSky
Head Pro
I wouldn't be 100% sure about that. He had a quite comfortable lead going into sunday and no other player really made a charge that could put him under pressure. On the other hand, he choked badly just four weeks ago in Hamburg when he found himself in a duel with McEvoy in the last group on sunday.
Would you as American captain pick him for a match play event?
Rumours are he has a great relationship with Woods. For that reason alone I think he’s on the team. If all players that had dropped a lead didn’t make the team then that would rule out most of em.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
He isn’t actually in yet so it’s not a fact , and it also wasn’t some stroke of genius to say he would get a pick when multiple people including pundits also suggesting he should get a wild card - going back a couple of months when he won previously - and he was also not far outside the auto points as well.
I hope he does get a pick - I think he has shown himself to be mentally weak at times , couple of meltdowns recently.
Hopefully they also pick Finau along with Woods and Mickleson - the more people that struggle with the driver off the tee the better for Europe
Paris National is no target golf course that they get in the US - keeping it in the fairway is going to be key
UlyssesSky
Head Pro
And if we only rule out the players who entered sunday T1 and then went on to shoot six over, including 4 bogeys and one triple bogey, when even par would have been enough to seal the deal - does that still rule most of them out?
Jacko_G
Blackballed
Not really sure what your point is. Plenty of players have blown a lead quite spectacularly. McIlroy and Norman in the Masters spring to mind and with all due respect to De Chambeau those two were/are world superstars at the time which he isn't quite yet. DeChambeau has two victories to his name so far this year, 2 second place finishes and 11 top 10 finishes. I'd suggest that is pretty dam decent.
Grant85
Head Pro
Yes I would. He has definitely been one of the top 12 players from America this year.
Choking... sure, he had a dreadful final day and compounded that with some crazy decisions when he was already out contention. But you have to put yourself in the position to piss away a lead. I'm not seeing that from Kuchar, Kisner, Schauffle etc as well as many of the American's who have already qualified.
In Germany, I actually think his game wasn't there and he did very well to hold onto things on Saturday. However, this week, his game was certainly there and no one could get near him.
It doesn't matter how they blew their leads. Leads being the ley here, he was axtually tied. But Many have done so. I can't recall their rounds shot for shot. But McIlroy, DJ, Thomas have all let em slide and they're the world's best.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Loads have blown leads and had meltdowns so De Chambeau not alone. Van De Velde and McIlroy two high profile examples but there are plenty of good pros who have had even a one or two shot lead into the last round and not got it done and dropped down a leader board. It happens. Doesn't make them chokers. Harrington yesterday a good example. Tied for the lead and then lost to birdies on 16 and 17. Was that bottling it or another player just playing better?
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
JT played in the French, and hardly hit his driver at all. The players you have quoted are quite capable of hitting irons off the tee round Paris National, and still winning.
I think it will be an excellent venue for match play.
Jacko_G
Blackballed
So this week sees the final qualifying tournament and the top eight get locked in.
I notice that Sergio has not entered this event nor is he currently in the field for the Omega Swiss Masters which I find quite bizarre considering that he's out of the FedEx. If I'm not mistaken does he not have a house in Switzerland?
Does he know he's not getting a pick? Does he know he is getting the nod?
I notice that Sergio has not entered this event nor is he currently in the field for the Omega Swiss Masters which I find quite bizarre considering that he's out of the FedEx. If I'm not mistaken does he not have a house in Switzerland?
Does he know he's not getting a pick? Does he know he is getting the nod?
Dan2501
Tour Winner
This. JT said he hit 7 drivers all week and was hitting mainly 4 and 5 irons off the tee. Tiger's struggles off the tee with the driver will be irrelevant in Paris, especially as he's probably the best mid to long-iron player in the game. Same goes for Phil and Finau, both very good long iron players.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
He'll know.
One way or the other...
Same with Poults and Casey, possibly Stenson and Rafa too.
Grant85
Head Pro
This is certainly very curious. My gut feeling is that he is probably not going to be considered and is now planning to take some time off.
If he spoke to Bjorn after missing out on the Fed Ex Cup, I don't believe that Bjorn would have guaranteed him a pick. He would have told him to go and play in Denmark and show me what you can do.
Stenson might be a different matter. And we will see him play this week. However, if he's not fit then it may be tricky to take him - even if he Bjorn maybe plans to only play him once a day - which is not unlikely.
At Gleneagles, McGinley partnered McDowell and Dubuisson and they only played foursomes each afternoon. This gave them a tremendous advantage as they could concentrate so much on what is by far the tougher format. They won both matches comfortably and they also both did well in the singles, McDowell winning and Dubuisson halving.
I reckon this is a great strategy if Bjorn can find a couple of foursomes specialists and say they are both just playing 1 match a day. Stenson with Olesson, Knox or Casey could all fit this bill, imo.
