Ryder Cup, September 24-26, Whistling Straits, WI

[dudog84]

USA captain's picks announced tomorrow at 10 EDT.

https://www.si.com/golf/news/2021-ry...steve-stricker

I'll assume Koepka plays, and say the no-brainers are Finau, Schauffele, Spieth, and English.

My two guesses are Berger (fairly sure) and Na (very strong Tour Championship).

[CameronDuke]

USA captain's picks announced tomorrow at 10 EDT.

https://www.si.com/golf/news/2021-ry...steve-stricker

I'll assume Koepka plays, and say the no-brainers are Finau, Schauffele, Spieth, and English.

My two guesses are Berger (fairly sure) and Na (very strong Tour Championship).

With his Captain's Picks locked, Steve Stricker selects:

Daniel Berger
Harris English
Tony Finau
Xander Schauffele
Scottie Scheffler
Jordan Spieth

You were right on. Scheffler over Na was kind of a wild card.

[dudog84]

With his Captain's Picks locked, Steve Stricker selects:

Daniel Berger
Harris English
Tony Finau
Xander Schauffele
Scottie Scheffler
Jordan Spieth

You were right on. Scheffler over Na was kind of a wild card.

Wow, that is a bit of a surprise. Scheffler has never won on the PGA Tour, but he did come in 2nd in the WGC match play this year. He also had 3 top 10s in this year's majors, so I'm not saying it was a bad pick.

Na has won 5 times, including this year, and his results in the last regular season tournament and 3 playoff events was T2, T8, T17, and 3. Seemed like a hot hand to me. (Scheffler in the playoffs: T43, T22, and T22 (did not play Wyndham))

Not unhappy Reed didn't get the call. He may have a long wait for a captain's pick, after my OP I stumbled upon this article about the last Ryder Cup drama:

https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2018/1...team-usa-fight

[CameronDuke]

Wow, that is a bit of a surprise. Scheffler has never won on the PGA Tour, but he did come in 2nd in the WGC match play this year. He also had 3 top 10s in this year's majors, so I'm not saying it was a bad pick.

Na has won 5 times, including this year, and his results in the last regular season tournament and 3 playoff events was T2, T8, T17, and 3. Seemed like a hot hand to me. (Scheffler in the playoffs: T43, T22, and T22 (did not play Wyndham))

Not unhappy Reed didn't get the call. He may have a long wait for a captain's pick, after my OP I stumbled upon this article about the last Ryder Cup drama:

https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2018/1...team-usa-fight

Yeah I had read that about Patrick Reed prior. He’s an enigma. A very talented enigma, but just a strange guy.

If indeed Scottie Scheffler was the “last” pick, here are a few reasons why he made it:

Results at his last six majors: 8-7-8-18-19-4.
Only two finishes outside of T-22 since June.
Ranked 22nd in strokes gained tee-to-green.

Like you said, he came in 2nd at the WGC Dell match play event. The Ryder Cup is all about match play.

[sagegrouse]

Here's the team with prior appearances listed:

1. Collin Morikawa (Rookie)
2. Dustin Johnson (2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2021)
3. Bryson DeChambeau (2018)
4. Brooks Koepka (2016, 2018, 2021)
5. Justin Thomas (2018, 2021)
6. Patrick Cantlay (Rookie)
7. Tony Finau (2018, 2021)
8. Xander Schauffele (Rookie)
9. Jordan Spieth (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
10. Harris English (Rookie)
11. Scottie Scheffler (Rookie)
12. Daniel Berger (Rookie)

We start with foursomes (two ball) on Friday morning. Pairings can be affected by which player plays which type of ball. Setting that aside, if I were the captain (dream on!), I would play two rookies -- Morikawa and Cantlay -- with the six veterans -- DJ, DeChambeau, Koepka, JT, Finau, Spieth. Oops! A second thought -- how can you sit the Olympic gold medalist? I might play Xander and sit Koepka, who has been injured.

[rsvman]

Is Koepka healthy enough to play?

[CameronDuke]

Here's the team with prior appearances listed:



We start with foursomes (two ball) on Friday morning. Pairings can be affected by which player plays which type of ball. Setting that aside, if I were the captain (dream on!), I would play two rookies -- Morikawa and Cantlay -- with the six veterans -- DJ, DeChambeau, Koepka, JT, Finau, Spieth. Oops! A second thought -- how can you sit the Olympic gold medalist? I might play Xander and sit Koepka, who has been injured.

I cannot wait. Is there anything better than the Ryder Cup? Whistling Straits is one of my favorite tracks in the country. I gotta get up there sometime!

[dudog84]

LOL, click bait! Title: Golf World Reacts To Steve Stricker’s Patrick Reed Decision

I never heard of a single person that "react[ed]". Certainly no golfers weighed in, not even a well-known commentator.

Don't do it!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/gol...de2?li=BBnbfcL

[rsvman]

I cannot wait. Is there anything better than the Ryder Cup? Whistling Straits is one of my favorite tracks in the country. I gotta get up there sometime!

There is something better than the Ryder Cup, IMO. It is called the Solheim Cup, and they just played it this past weekend.

[Channing]

There is something better than the Ryder Cup, IMO. It is called the Solheim Cup, and they just played it this past weekend.

Solheim Cup is great and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but strong disagree that it is better than the Ryder Cup. The women are incredible and I have enjoyed watching more of the women's game as it has gotten more publicity recently (full disclosure - hte NLU guys constantly pushing the women's game put it on my radar and spurred me to start watching more) but the shot making from the men is spectacular.

On the RC, I was disappointed that Kevin Na didn't get the pick. I understand that Scheffler's game probably fits Whistling Straits better, but Na is so much fun to watch, has had a great (and highly underrated) career and, I would imagine, can be a giant nudge on the course.

[killerleft]

LOL, click bait! Title: Golf World Reacts To Steve Stricker’s Patrick Reed Decision

I never heard of a single person that "react[ed]". Certainly no golfers weighed in, not even a well-known commentator.

Don't do it!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/gol...de2?li=BBnbfcL

Something needs to change, so maybe Reed is it. But when you look at Ryder Cup records, he's one of the few bright spots since the Eurpeans gained parity ( or is that dominance?) Dude wins two-thirds of his matches.

[dudog84]

Something needs to change, so maybe Reed is it. But when you look at Ryder Cup records, he's one of the few bright spots since the Eurpeans gained parity ( or is that dominance?) Dude wins two-thirds of his matches.

I believe in the last 2 team events he is 2-5. He's worn thin. What have you done for me lately?

[killerleft]

I believe in the last 2 team events he is 2-5. He's worn thin. What have you done for me lately?

For this years team, collectively: What have you done for me ever in the Ryder Cup? And 2-5 is probably above average for our underachievers.

But, like I said, something had to change. For the better? We'll see.

[mkirsh]

Is Brooks healthy? Will the current roster avoid positive Covid tests/quarantine? I think there is a reasonable chance that Reed or NA (or both) get the call to fill a vacancy.

[CameronDuke]

Is Brooks healthy? Will the current roster avoid positive Covid tests/quarantine? I think there is a reasonable chance that Reed or NA (or both) get the call to fill a vacancy.

Brooksy has a wrist injury he sustained at the Tour Championship at East Lake when he struck a root hitting a shot from the rough. He’s questionable for the Ryder Cup. The only advice I’d give him is that roots don’t grow in the fairway …

I think he’s done for the Ryder Cup. I’d expect to see Reed or Na replace him …

[JasonEvans]

Brooksy has a wrist injury he sustained at the Tour Championship at East Lake when he struck a root hitting a shot from the rough. He’s questionable for the Ryder Cup. The only advice I’d give him is that roots don’t grow in the fairway …

I think he’s done for the Ryder Cup.

It's over!

[dudog84]

It appears we've all overlooked Sam Burns' qualifications.

[Burns is] fourth in total putting, fifth in putts per green in regulation and ninth in strokes gained (putting), all of which are miles better than Scheffler. It can’t be because he isn’t long enough off the tee. Burns is practically identical with Scheffler in driving distance. And it can’t be that he hasn’t won yet on the PGA Tour. Burns won the Valspar Championship In May on a tough Copperhead Course at Innisbrook. Oh, yes. Scheffler still hasn’t won on Tour.

And it certainly can’t be his recent form. Burns’ last four starts, which include the WGC-FedEx St. Jude and all three playoff events, are T-2, T-21, 8 and T-18. Scheffler, in those same events, was 14, T-43, T-22 and T-22.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/gol...FKF?li=BBnbfcL

If Koepka can't go, I hope Burns gets the call.

[dudog84]

Life is hard for Brooks Koepka. Some interesting quotes here.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/58562548

[arnie]

Life is hard for Brooks Koepka. Some interesting quotes here.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/58562548

Wait till he’s paired with DeChambeau, then ask for his comments.

[jv001]

Life is hard for Brooks Koepka. Some interesting quotes here.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/58562548

There's lots of I's in that article. When Brooks first came out on the PGA tour, I rooted for him because of his family ties to Dick Groat. However after watching him and reading some of his comments, he's not one of my favorite pro golfers but I will be rooting for him in the Ryder Cup.