Ryder Cup European Wild Cards

[Steve Bamford]

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.

Clearly he can still enter Crans. If he doesn't it suggests Garcia won't be selected as to gain confidence he needs to be playing events pre Ryder Cup.

 

[Del_Boy]

dont think it will matter to much who he picks - reckon the septics will turn over the Europeans

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well it looks like 7 of the automatic spaces are sorted now

Molinari
Rory
Noren
Fleetwood
Hatton
Rahm
Rose

The last spot can only be won by Olesen , Fitzpatrick or Pepperell with Olesen in pole position

I think we are safe to say that Poulter has got a wildcard

So it’s going to leave three spots

It’s got to between these players

Stenson , Garcia , RCB and Casey imo

I think recent events puts RCB in

So it will depend on how Stensons injury is - if he is ok then he is in

That leaves - Garcia or Casey ?

Tough pick - still would go Garcia because of his potential with partners - but it will depend on how Casey does at the Dell

 

[Hobbit]

I'd go Olesen for the only automatic spot left, and if one of the others overtakes him I'd then make him a wildcard pick.

Stenson providing his injury is ok. RCB a definite.

But when you look back at the last 6 months results for both Casey and Garcia you might be tempted to take neither. Casey has cooled off loads, and Garcia is very poor.

Would it be wise to take another rookie, or Fitzpatrick who's had a very poor 2018? Pepperell? Again, I'm tempted to say neither.

9 and half players if you see Stenson as a half. Still need to find 2. The European squad is looking a little light.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd go Olesen for the only automatic spot left, and if one of the others overtakes him I'd then make him a wildcard pick.

Stenson providing his injury is ok. RCB a definite.

But when you look back at the last 6 months results for both Casey and Garcia you might be tempted to take neither. Casey has cooled off loads, and Garcia is very poor.

Would it be wise to take another rookie, or Fitzpatrick who's had a very poor 2018? Pepperell? Again, I'm tempted to say neither.

9 and half players if you see Stenson as a half. Still need to find 2. The European squad is looking a little light.

I think the squad does look light and it's going to need a big effort to overturn what I think is one of the strongest US sides in the last 20 years or so.

 

[Jacko_G]

I think the squad does look light and it's going to need a big effort to overturn what I think is one of the strongest US sides in the last 20 years or so.

Boabies!

 

[Golfmmad]

With his experience, Casey has to go IMO.

 

[Jacko_G]

dont think it will matter to much who he picks - reckon the septics will turn over the Europeans

I disagree with that. Last time round I tipped the Americans purely based on the fact that Clarke was captain and his picks. Lets not forget that USA had a great team too so defeat wasn't that surprising in all honesty however Captain Clarke didn't help.

Anyway I look at this Ryder Cup team and I'm fairly confident that Europe will put up a good battle.

Americans really underestimate a lot of the European players, they don't rate Hatton at all. They are only now appreciating that Noran can play. Same with Fleetwood they are very dismissive of him despite what he's achieved. These guys can more than hold their own.

Throw in Molinari, Rose, Rahm, McIlroy and we have a pretty solid backbone. I think it all boils down to the picks. For me Pepperell and Pieters are just too far back. Even a victory wouldn't propel them into the side is my honest opinion.

I see the Made in Denmark event has thrown up a couple of interesting 3 balls. Bjorn, Kaymer and Pepperell, Westwood, Pieters and Olesen. Captain and vice paying lip service or genuine close up look? Time will tell.

 

[drewster]

I'm not so sure that Stenson is fit enough to play potentially 5 rounds in 3 days and therefore may not be the automatic selection everyone thinks. I also really think Thomas Pieters will get very serious consideration and possibly a pick. Maybe they set him a target for this week like "win it and you're in" like they did with Eduardo at Celtic Manor ???

 

[Grant85]

Clearly he can still enter Crans. If he doesn't it suggests Garcia won't be selected as to gain confidence he needs to be playing events pre Ryder Cup.

Wild cards are picked after Made in Denmark, 1 week today.

 

[Dan2501]

Pieters playing beautifully again this week, he's in some very good form. His power and wedge play makes him so dangerous. His form the last two weeks guarantees him a spot in my team. As it stands I'm going:

Stenson
Pieters
RCB
Olesen

 

[merv79]

I think Garcia will go as a wildcard because it's looking highly likely that there will be 5 rookies out of the 8 automatic picks, so we will need plenty of experience in the wildcards.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Oleson is already in a quali spot no need for a pick as neither Fitz or Pepperel are going to win the Danish. which they need to do to overtake Oleson .
my picks
POULTER
RCB
CASEY
PIETERS

 

[PJ87]

Don’t want Casey anywhere near the side

Poulter
Rcb
Stienson
Pieters

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Pieters playing beautifully again this week, he's in some very good form. His power and wedge play makes him so dangerous. His form the last two weeks guarantees him a spot in my team. As it stands I'm going:

Stenson
Pieters
RCB
Olesen

Olesen is already in the team automatically and it’s looking unlikely that the two that can overtake him ( Fitzpatrick and Pepperell ) will do so that for me would mean all four wild cards will be players that have played

Poulter is a shoe in for a pick
Stenson if fit
And I think RCB is in

That leaves one spot between Casey , Pieters , Garcia , Fitzpatrick and Pepperell

Tough choice between Garcia and Pieters

 

[Dan2501]

Thought Poulter had the automatic spot already for some reason. So yeah, picks would be:

Poulter
Pieters
RCB
Stenson

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Oleson is already in a quali spot no need for a pick as neither Fitz or Pepperel are going to win the Danish. which they need to do to overtake Oleson .
my picks
POULTER
RCB
CASEY
PIETERS

I like those picks. All have RC experience which will help. It'll be interesting to see what Bjorn does and who gets paired up. I still think the US team, on paper at least looks very formidable but as we've seen before, away from home they can be fragile. Either way it's shaping up to be an epic

 

[Pin-seeker]

Pepperell should be in the team.
Poulter will get a pick because he beats his cheat & shouts COME ON 🙄

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'd like to see Pepperell in. A good player, a character and a European tour stalwart.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Unfortunately for Pepperell the team already has 5 rookies and if anything was learned about the previous Ryder Cup is that too many rookies is hard to balance - especially ones that haven’t really set the game alight with any big wins , he is a decent player but one win 7 months ago isn’t really the sort of big player you would give a wild card too