Crunch time is here for Presidents Cup berths

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If Keegan Bradley doesn't play his way onto the U.S. Team, he'd be a very strong candidate for a Captain's pick.

It's crunch time.

And not just to make it to Atlanta.

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Yes, who makes it to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola will indeed play into what we're about to discuss, but today's subject is a bit broader. And longer range. As in a bunch of time zones. And a trip Down Under.

Come next late Sunday night in a Chicago suburb we'll know who's in and who's out for those automatic spots on the Presidents Cup teams. Automatically, that is.

Nine days after that -- Sept. 27 -- Fred Couples and Greg Norman will finalize their respective teams. Couples will have one more pick -- he's already announced Tiger Woods will take one; Norman has two.

So, you might ask, just how are these teams shaping up?

We're not here to tap-dance on Couples' head for making that Tiger pick way early. It's Couples' choice and there's no question that when his game is on -- and its wavering right now -- Tiger's great. Can't argue with 5-0 at Harding Park two years ago and, even if there has been a cataclysmic flood under the bridge since then, Tiger's still Tiger. And can't argue with the captain since bottom -- and top and middle too -- line, it's his decision.

Neither are we here to hammer you about the comparison of the day -- Norman choosing Adam Scott in 2009, despite the fact he was struggling, to encourage the player he'd mentored since Scott was a teen. Questioned? Absolutely. But different situations and, again, captain's decision.

So, moving along, what have we got?

For one thing, the chance for some serious volatility on the U.S. side next week. What happens if Ryan Palmer wins the BMW Championship? Or Jason Dufner, Mark Wilson, Keegan Bradley, Gary Woodland or Charles Howell? Or Bo Van Pelt or Rickie Fowler? Or Bill Haas?

Depending on what Jim Furyk and David Toms -- currently numbers 9 and 10 on the list do, they're pretty much in. As in one giant leap into the top 10 in points. And, really, Van Pelt, Fowler and everyone else in that 11-17 range in the current point standings has a chance with -- again depending -- maybe a second or third.

Doubting that could happen? Where have you been this season? Out-of-the-box is the theme for 2011. Who'd-a-thought the tagline for most tournaments -- majors or not.

Just look at Chez Reavie, who isn't in contention for a spot, but did jump 35 spots -- to 41st in the PC standings -- after finishing second to Webb Simpson at the Deutsche Bank Championship. So ...

No matter what happens, Couples may have the toughest captain's pick call. Phil Mickelson, who's entering the mentoring stage of his career, thinks Couples should take Bradley. Others are lobbying for Snedeker. And, if you can get past what he hasn't done in final rounds of late, who wouldn't want Rickie Fowler? Serious match play guy -- and a bit of a controversial pick for Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin -- who birdied the last four holes to halve his match with Edoardo Molinari last fall.

But what about those other guys? The Haases and Palmers and Van Pelts and Wilsons of the list? No Cup experience here. But is that all bad? They're solid players who have all had strong weeks this year. Not Justin Leonard 45-foot-bomb years -- yes, 1999 Ryder Cup -- but who saw that one coming?

When the Presidents Cup was in its infancy, it was Couples who gave it street cred. He made unbelievable shots in those early Presidents Cups. He finished what the rest of the team started -- even when no one was sure he could. Or would.

He knows, too, that someone who makes his team could do the same.

Easiest case scenario? Bradley, who is in the conversation for both rookie and player of the year, plays his way onto the team and takes himself out of the last-pick lottery. Worst case? Couples has a three- or four-way headache after Chicago.

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Vijay Singh has played in every Presidents Cup but isn't on this year's International squad -- yet.

As for Norman? His team is selected on a different curve -- the world rankings -- and its hard to imagine a lot of volatility there since a win won't move the needle as much with those. The top nine spots -- through Ryo Ishikawa -- are set. The wild card? Could be how well Louis Oosthuizen plays this week at the KLM Open.

Oosthuizen is currently 10th on the International list, followed by a rallying Geoff Ogilvy, who Norman would love to have on his team. Tim Clark is 12th, but he's out with an injury and part of Norman's braintrust as a vice-captain. Next up? A must-have Vijay Singh followed by Aussies Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley.

Norman already has two Aussies who played their way onto the team -- Jason Day and Scott, ranked seventh and 10th in the world, respectively -- but, trust us, Norman wouldn't mind having two more countrymen on his squad. If Ogilvy or Singh can win the BMW an leapfrog Oosthuizen to seal the 10th spot, Norman's good. He can add Baddeley or Allenby with a pick. Or could Stuart Appleby catch his eye? Doubtful.

If someone doesn't bump Oosthuizen? See that as a no-brainer. Grab the vets Ogilvy and Singh and be happy with just three Aussies.

No matter who Couples and Norman choose, the Presidents Cup is shaping up as one heck of a battle. Tinged with revenge.

The last time the Cup went to Royal Melbourne, the International team wiped up -- 20.5-11.5. They haven't won since -- although there was the 17-17 draw in South Africa in 2003. So the U.S. wants to avenge the loss and the Inernationals want to avenge the last four loss.

Yes, everyone with a chance wants to be there. By playing their way in or being chosen.

So get ready for anything and everything.

It's crunch time.