The President's Cup teams have been chosen, with US Captain, Fred Couples, and the International Captain, Greg Norman, announcing their Captain's picks this week. Couples chose US Open Champ, Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan. Norman chose young Japanese upstart Ryo Ishikawa and Adam Scott. Like all President's Cup and Ryder Cup captain's picks, this year's selections have brought comments and questions as to those picked versus those overlooked.
For the US Team, I have not heard any questions or doubts as to picking Lucas Glover, the US Open Champion. Heck, he finished 11 in the standings for the 12 man team. But only the top 10 are guaranteed a spot because of the two Captain's Picks (CP). The second CP chosen was Hunter Mahan who was #13 on the list. I believe that, for last year's Ryder Cup, Mahan finished 13th in the 2 year qualifying battle and was chosen over the 11th and 12 finishers.
I have heard some comments concerning the Mahan choice because the number 12 ranked player, Brian Gay, who has 2 victories this year, was passed over for Mahan who has none and only one second place finish this year and 2 solid years of playing.
For the International Team, Norman's choices were Ryo Ishikawa who finished 20th on the list and Adam Scott who finished 14th. I have not heard or read a whole lot of differences or anxiety on the Ishikawa pick, but I have seen some questioning choosing Adam Scott, who had a dismal season even he admits to, falling from a world ranking starting at #3 to 53rd.
The big issue I see here as regards the President's Cup and Ryder Cup is that, first and foremost, the qualifying process is a two year deal and some say that emphasis should be placed on players playing well late in the 2nd year. This would certainly bode well for the Ishikawa pick. He only turned pro this year and only had one year of qualifying, and has won tournaments and made it up to 20th. This playing well near the end of the second year also fits well for Lucas Glover, with his win in the US Open and his playing well since. Mahan has just played solid and steady for the whole two years and is a worthy choice.
But the Scott choice is exactly the opposite as this year is his poor playing year. It fits no rhyme nor reason to the concept of putting your best players on the course. It is really quite a slap in the face to all the players who have played well 'FOR TWO YEARS' and finished ahead of him on the point list.
I think that probably one of the most difficult tasks any President's or Ryder Cup Captain has to make is his Captain's Picks. He is going to make his picks happy and really improve their endorsement deals and he is going to really break the hearts of the players inside the top 12 on the list that he jumps over. For the President's cup, the Captains have two picks and last year in the Ryder Cup, the US team got four picks. That means players 9 ' 12 could be overlooked, and as I remember, two were for players with quite higher numbers.
Two years is real long time and a whole lot of hard work and pressure, especially down the home stretch, as it was last year for the Ryder Cup when the choices announcement was extended a few more weeks. Also, anytime the Captain goes out of the top 12 for a pick, no matter who he picks he is leaving himself open to question and scrutiny, even if the picks play well and score points.
My solution to the pressure packed Captains Picks? 'ELIMINATE' the Captain's Picks. Go with the low 12 players who were the best for the two years. They worked hard, played hard and earned the right to be one of the 12 players.
The Surge!