Who will Captain Pavin pick? Throw a dart at the wall
By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Still wondering what the heck Colin Montgomerie was thinking? Or if he was thinking, period?
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Get over it. Move on. Don't like his choices? Dust his decisions the way he dusted No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking Paul Casey. And two-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Rose.
The picks, after all, are the captain's prerogative in this Ryder Cup year. You don't have to agree or disagree. He had tough choices to make, the European team is set and, with six rookies, the pressure is on.
And now? Time to concentrate on Team America. The defending champs. The underdogs. The ones who go into next month's matches with nothing lose, yet everything to prove.
Countdown is on for Corey Pavin. Come Tuesday, he'll be the one in spotlight. He'll have everyone still guessing on the four names he will call. And when he does, they'll be dissecting his choices. Some will agree. Some will shrug. Still others will jump on his decisions and dust him off. Most will agree this whole decision process isn't rocket science, rather a complicated mix of form and feel.
With four rookies on the team and a couple more hopefuls waiting in the wings, with the heretofore best player in the world caught in a maddening swirl of swing changes and life changes and the world No. 2 battling arthritis and another hopeful still rusty from spring thumb surgery... well, what's this U.S. captain to do?
And calling Paul Azinger to check on personality match ups isn't an answer.
Four picks, six more days of water cooler and weekend discussions. Four more rounds -- at this week's Deutsche Bank Championship -- that could well mean a trip Wales at the end of September, as well as moving on to Week Three of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
Will Pavin go for veterans? Rookies? Pairings? Hot hands?
Who knows. Ben Crenshaw pulled a stunner when he chose Steve Pate and Curtis Strange drew more than few head shakes when he picked Scott Verplank.
So this time around, what are you thinking?
Pavin's got -- in no certain order -- Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar in on points. And most of that group is playing pretty well, but he's got to be a bit worried about Mickelson missing the cut last week.
So our short list of favorites is pretty simple: Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Stewart Cink, Sean O'Hair and Zach Johnson. Nothing against the rest of the hopefuls. It's just that -- in this column, at least -- this bunch stands out.
Tiger is a no-brainer. Snap hooks, erratic putting and all. He's not that far away from putting it together -- he did jump 47 places in the FedExCup standings last week -- and he is the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking.
A Ryder Cup without Tiger? Just doesn't seem right. He's got trusty -- except for cell phone alarms -- Jim Furyk to partner with and if they find the touch on the greens, they'll be tough. And a singles match against Tiger? You're already thinking Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood aren't you?
Zach Johnson -- that would make two Johnsons on this team, how pages-of-phone-book-American -- is a tough player who has won this year and finished with a share of third at the PGA. He's a go-to Cup guy after two Presidents Cups and a Ryder Cup. Finds fairways and greens. Good putter, too. Versatile when it comes to pairings.
Cink? Look no farther than four Ryder Cups and four Presidents Cups. Working his way into form and, when he's on, the guy can putt. He has a Claret Jug, too.
Fowler has tons of promise and should be a Cupper for years to come. He hasn't broken through -- yet -- but plays an aggressive game. He and best friend Bubba would certainly keep the team loose. They don't know any other way.
And O'Hair? One of those he's-right-there guys with a game that will last. He's only finished out of the top 12 four times in his last 10 events, but three of those were missed cuts.
If Anthony Kim finds this game this week, he's a no-brainer. But he's still adjusting to his post-surgical thumb and the results have been three missed cuts and a T76. Not the form you want going to Wales. A great week in Boston and who knows? Pavin will be watching. Closely.
Another "if" guy? Former U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover, who missed the cut at the PGA and The Barclays. Not the way to play your way onto the team, but Boston could change everything. Then again, maybe not.
Bo Van Pelt and Nick Watney had their chances, but haven't stepped up in the last few months the way Kuchar has. They may have to wait to cut their Cup teeth in next year's Presidents Cup.
So who makes it? Tiger's a lock, even if he has an up-and-down week. Cink and Johnson too. All veterans. All balance out the hard-charging young rookies.
As for the final spot? Fowler or O'Hair could play their way in and this is a must-play-well for Kim if he has any chance.
Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. Throw a dart. Pull a name out of a hat. Figure that one of that bunch will step up and give Pavin a reason he can't ignore. If not, pass the Advil.
But if I had to pick one before the final 100 tee it up at TPC Boston? O'Hair did share eighth last year, but going with a feeling? It's Go Time. Think Fowler.
Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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