Should Tiger Be On The Ryder Cup Team?

[ologan]

I've often thought that Tiger was a wasted spot on the Ryder Cup team in the past. However, looking at the Ryder Cup records, he hasn't done all that bad. (I still have a hard time swallowing the last Ryder Cup loss....arrrgghhh!!! Probably makes Barney Brit's day, though!)
With his recent injury, what's your opinion on whether he should be a "captains selection"? Personally, I think we need to plug someone else in, but that's my opinion.

 

[Tabascocat]

No, but that doesn't bring in the ratings.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

No, he shouldn't.

He hasn't played well enough to get in and not even close. His injuries are too worrisome either. If he goes to the Ryder cup and gets injured on Saturday, you're screwed.

It will be tough for the US Team to beat the European team when you McIlroy playing great, Justin Rose, Kaymer, Garcia, F. Molinari, Dubuisson, etc.





YR

 

[UKCowboysFan]

The reason that Europe has done so well in recent years is that they are a team, not a collection of the best individuals.

Tiger has always been so single minded that his focus is on him, and I don't think he helps the US team.

As for whether the US can win, well the European team has gone into many Ryder Cups in recent years against a US team with more than 1/2 of the worlds top ten players on form and have still managed to win.

I for one will certainly not write off the chances of the US team, they still have some great players

 

[Phoenix]

If I'm the captain of the team and it's totally up to me to decide on this, my question to Tiger would be, "What's it worth to you"?

 

[visionary]

No, but that doesn't bring in the ratings.

This
He will be there for ratings

 

[MichaelWinicki]

No.

 

[honyock]

No, he shouldn't.

He hasn't played well enough to get in and not even close. His injuries are too worrisome either. If he goes to the Ryder cup and gets injured on Saturday, you're screwed.

YR

This. He hasn't earned it.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

This
He will be there for ratings

Possibly, but I don't see Tom Watson caring much about the ratings. With names like Scott, McIlroy, Rose, Kaymer, Garcia, Stenson, and McDowell heading the European team there is no room for a ratings pick. Not to mention that Tiger has really never been great in match play. The US has some nice young guys players in Watson, Fowler, Walker, D. Johnson, Z. Johnson, Kuchar, and Speith but they don't match up well with the Europeans. It may come down to the Captains picks for the US to be successful. Watson may lean towards guys he's comfortable with and he's close to Stricker, Snedeker, and Simpson. I just don't see a spot for Tiger this year.

 

[Doomsday101]

Tom Watson does not have to make the 3 captain selection until September 14th I think how Tiger progress will determin what Watson does.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

Tom Watson does not have to make the 3 captain selection until September 14th I think how Tiger progress will determin what Watson does.

Very true, there is still a lot of golf to be played. I'm just going off current standings and the players I know he has a relationship with. The big thing Tiger has going for him is a trip to Bridgestone. I think he's won it 7-8 times now. He's also won at Valhalla where the the PGA Championship is hosted this year. He's got the time and the skill set to get it done, but he's got to find a way to drive the ball in the fairway.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very true, there is still a lot of golf to be played. I'm just going off current standings and the players I know he has a relationship with. The big thing Tiger has going for him is a trip to Bridgestone. I think he's won it 7-8 times now. He's also won at Valhalla where the the PGA Championship is hosted this year. He's got the time and the skill set to get it done, but he's got to find a way to drive the ball in the fairway.

Tom Watson
“If he’s playing well and in good health, I’ll pick him,’’ Watson said of Woods after Watson’s final round of 68 — compared to 72 for Woods. “But the caveat to that is if he does [not] make the FedEx Cup, what do I do then? That’s not here yet.’’

 

[casmith07]

No. Two tournaments played this year and coming off a back injury and surgery. He's not well enough to be playing.

 

[Sarge]

Tom Watson does not have to make the 3 captain selection until September 14th I think how Tiger progress will determin what Watson does.

This.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

The reason that Europe has done so well in recent years is that they are a team, not a collection of the best individuals.

Tiger has always been so single minded that his focus is on him, and I don't think he helps the US team.

How does that matter in golf?

 

[Future]

Possibly, but I don't see Tom Watson caring much about the ratings. With names like Scott, McIlroy, Rose, Kaymer, Garcia, Stenson, and McDowell heading the European team there is no room for a ratings pick. Not to mention that Tiger has really never been great in match play. The US has some nice young guys players in Watson, Fowler, Walker, D. Johnson, Z. Johnson, Kuchar, and Speith but they don't match up well with the Europeans. It may come down to the Captains picks for the US to be successful. Watson may lean towards guys he's comfortable with and he's close to Stricker, Snedeker, and Simpson. I just don't see a spot for Tiger this year.

Which is why you almost have to roll the dice and hope Tiger plays well. The US doesn't have nearly the upside of the Europeans, and Tiger is still better than everyone else when he's on his game.

You absolutely have to wait with Tiger and see which way he's trending as September approaches.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Which is why you almost have to roll the dice and hope Tiger plays well. The US doesn't have nearly the upside of the Europeans, and Tiger is still better than everyone else when he's on his game.

You absolutely have to wait with Tiger and see which way he's trending as September approaches.

The trouble is that he hasn't really been on his game in a long time– not like the old days.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

It doesn't look good for the US Team this year because the Euros are really playing well.

The top-8 in points thus far are:

1. Bubba Watson
2. Jimmy Walker
3. Rickie Fowler
4. Jim Furyk
5. Dustin Johnson
6. Jordan Spieth
7. Matt Kuchar
8. Jason Dufner

I actually believe the US team could win (and possibly blowout the Euros) *if* Watson used a more data analytics approach to pairing players.

In general, good Short Game play and putting is very helpful in the Ryder Cup format. Short Game even more so because it's not always easy to take good putting from course to course (see Snedeker at Medinah). But, in the match play format over the years the players that are really good around the green tend to do well. Poulter has one of the best short games on Tour. So does Luke Donald. Both excellent match play golfers. Jason Day one the Accenture Match play...spectacular short game player. I just think in the match play format...particularly at the Ryder Cup...it's tough to play an opponent that can get up and down from the ballwasher and stymie you when think you have him beat.

So, if I were Watson I would look at good short game players. Looking at how well a player is putting is a bit ill-conceived because a player may putt well going into the PGA Championship, then cool off by the time the Ryder Cup is to be played.

I think it's also important to get young players. You don't have to worry about them tiring out and having to sit them. And if you get a young player who is riding a hot hand, you can just keep playing him and gain points.

In the 4-ball format (low score), you really want to focus on guys that make birdies and guys that play the par-4's and par-5's well. Or if you have a player that plays the par-4's and par-5's well, but struggles on the par-3's, look for a partner that plays the par-3's well and plays the par-4's well.

In the 4-some format (alternate shot) we need to find guys who have more 'compatible' games. Trying to put somebody like Mickelson in with say Zach Johnson is a bad idea because Mickelson misses a lot of fairways and Zach isn't good out of the rough. You would also want to find good short game players along with guys that generally are good at avoiding bogeys. That's why Furyk is a good 4-some player (low bogey player), but a terrible 4-ball player (low birdie player).

If I am Tom Watson, I'm leaning toward looking for young players that have good short games and that can play in both the 4-ball and 4-some format. You really need to find who is hot and who is not and ride the hot hands and bench the guys playing poorly.

That's why I see Tiger as a bad pick...he's struggled all year long. The strength of his game is not his short game around the green. And with his injuries, you're not going to be able to play him every round if you need him to and he may only be able to play on 2 of the days, needing a break.

Right now, my picks would be:

1. Zach Johnson
2. Keegan Bradley
3. Patrick Reed
4. Brendon Todd or Phil Mickelson or Webb Simpson






YR

 

[Future]

The trouble is that he hasn't really been on his game in a long time– not like the old days.

He has had rounds here and there, the problem is that, for whatever reason, he can't put a whole weekend together.

 

[Doomsday101]

The trouble is that he hasn't really been on his game in a long time– not like the old days.

I think the standard for Tiger is much higher he won Arnold Palmer Invitational, Farmers Insurance Open, Players Championship, Cadillac Championship and Bridgestone Invitational all in 2013 each one of them big events vs the worlds top players he also won player of the year last season. By any other golfers standards that is an outstanding year yet for Tiger it is an off year?