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U.S. Ryder Cup Captain’s Pick Suggestions

We all know the eight golfers who played their way on to the U.S. Ryder Cup team: Keegan Bradley, Zach Johnson, Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson, and Tiger Woods. But who should get the four Captain’s picks?

The next seven names in order of points are Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Ricky Fowler, Brandt Snedeker, Bo Van Pelt, and Dustin Johnson. I’d take Mahan, Strick, Furyk, and Dustin.

Mahan is a strong match play golfer and is tough as nails. He can go toe-to-toe with anyone on the European side. He won’t fold in the crucible of the white-hot spotlight.

Stricker is one of only two guys who can team with Woods and 4/7ths of this tournament is doubles golf. The other is Furyk. Woods weighs down the team with his needed to play with an “approved pal” and that’s either “Strickie” or “Jimbo.”

(Lord knows after rooming with Zach at one event and putting XXX porn on TV whenever he was in the room as some sort of “joke,” he can’t play with Z.J. and we all know what happened when he had to play with Phil…) I’d put both Stricker and Furyk on the team. That way Woods has TWO guys he can play with. Who knows, maybe he can branch out and play with D.J., who actually does play well with Phil.

Fowler gets support for reasons not connected to winning. He’s young! He’s handsome! He has cool hair! He wears bright colors! None of that will scare Graeme McDowell. Sneds and Van Pelt even less. D.J. however is a thunderbolt waiting to happen and he’s intimidating to boot.

For the record, here’s the European team: Colsaerts, Garcia, Kaymer, McDowell, F. Molinari, Rose, Donald, P. Hanson, Lawrie, McIlroy, Poulter, Westwood.

So let’s break down the “three groups of four” system which has actually yielded dividends for the American side.

Zach, Dufner, Webb, Mahan – the God Squad guys! Talk about excellent chemistry! Mix and match them as needed.

Woods, Furyk, Stricker, Kuchar

Phil, DJ, Bubba, Keegan

Simple isn’t it? We’ll discuss this more at my Cybergolf and PGA.com previews, along with an analysis of the course.