I want to start by congratulating Jim Furyk on his win this past weekend at the Wachovia Championship. It was nice to see Furyk put one away because he has been struggling in that department lately. Speaking of the Wachovia Championship, it has definitely turned into one of the best non-major events on the PGA Tour schedule. There was only one round in the 60s on Sunday, and that’s what I love to see.
Now, on to this week’s article. Last week’s Thrash Talk focused on the current United States Ryder Cup team. There is still a lot of time left, but I believe the team isn’t looking very strong right now. This week we’ll look at their likely opposition on the European side. The rivals from across the pond will be looking for their third straight triumph in Ryder Cup competition.
I’m going to break down the team into a few different groups because the qualifying process is a little different on the European side. Then I’ll give my final thoughts on the team at the end of the article. So sit tight and enjoy!
Ryder Cup World Points List
Many of the European Ryder Cup team members play their fair share of golf in the United States each year. Therefore, the team wouldn’t be near as strong if it was only determined by play on the European Tour. Enter the Ryder Cup world points list. This list of golfers is determined by world rankings points earned in each tournament they play during the qualifying period.
Currently, the top five on this list are Henrik Stenson, José Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, and Luke Donald. Olazabal and Montgomerie have played in numerous Ryder Cup matches, and their experience will be very valuable to the team. While the two veterans aren’t locks for the team at this point, they are pretty darn close. I’ll be surprised to see either drop off the list and become captain’s picks.
Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald are both ranked in the top 10 in the world, so their play speaks for itself. Both youngsters are capable of huge things, and both will be stalwarts for the European team this September. Garcia has been a little shaky so far in 2006, but he usually brings his “A-Game” to the Ryder Cup. Donald won the Honda Classic earlier this season, and he will be ready for battle as well.
Henrik Stenson could be the wild card for the European side this year. Stenson is quickly making a name for himself in the world of golf. He has a win on the European Tour in 2006, and he has a couple solid finishes on the PGA Tour. The Swede plays well on tough courses, and he has an even-cool demeanor about him. That being said, Stenson could be the difference at this year’s Ryder Cup at the K Club.
European Ryder Cup Points List
The next five golfers on the European Ryder Cup team will be determined by the European Ryder Cup points list. This list is made up of the golfers who primarily play in Europe as opposed to the United States. The top-five golfers not already on the team via the world points list earn a spot as well. Right now, these five golfers are David Howell, Paul McGinley, Paul Broadhurst, Nick Dougherty, and Paul Casey.
David Howell is one of the most underrated golfers in the world and is quickly making a name for himself. Howell went head-to-head with Tiger late last season and knocked him off, winning the HSBC World Championship. The Englishman is definitely one of the top 20 golfers in the world right now. McGinley is well known for sealing the deal at the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry and was also a member of the team in 2004.
Paul Casey is everyone’s favorite European, right? Not exactly. I don’t really have a problem with the guy, but I know a lot of people who do. Casey was a member of the 2004 European team that dominated the U.S., and he had some choice words for Americans shortly thereafter. Casey has been up and down since those comments were made, and he shouldn’t be a huge factor at this year’s event.
Paul Broadhurst and Nick Dougherty haven’t made any past appearances in the Ryder Cup, so they would be the rookies if the standings hold up. I talked about the uncertainties of the possible United States rookies, and the same holds true about these guys. You just never know how a golfer will react under the pressure of the Ryder Cup. There is one difference this year, however. The event will be played on European soil, and that favors the European rookies.
Captain’s Picks
After looking at the top 10, I turned my focus towards the possible captain’s picks. Past Ryder Cup stalwarts Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood are currently on the outside looking in. Also, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Ian Poulter are currently not in the mix. All five of these golfers were on the 2004 European team, and all will be missed if they don’t get things going in a hurry.
If I was the captain, I would pick Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood. Both guys have had their share of ups and downs recently, but both are very capable of carrying a Ryder Cup team. Clarke has been focused on family things over the past year and rightfully so. That would be the only possible reason not to include him on the team. That being said, I would still want him around for veteran leadership and great team spirit. Westwood always plays his best golf in the Ryder Cup, so that pick speaks for itself.
Padraig Harrington has struggled mightily in 2006 in both Europe and the United States. I expect him to break out of his slump at any time, but I’m not sure it will be soon enough to make the Ryder Cup team. The same goes for Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ian Poulter. They could both be possible captain’s picks, but I don’t see them being picked over some of the others available. Two of these five guys will be the captain’s picks when the dust settles.
Other notables knocking on the door are Niclas Fasth, Kenneth Ferrie, and Gonzalo Fdez-Castano. Fasth was a member of the 2002 Ryder Cup team and also recently won on the European Tour. I don’t know much about Ferrie or Fdez-Castano, but both must be doing something right to have themselves in the mix. And by the time the 2006 Ryder Cup is in the books, the whole world may know more about them if they make the team.
The Final Say
As I mentioned earlier, the Ryder Cup is still more than four months from now, but it’s time to start getting focused on it. It will be here before we know it. Both teams have their solid guys at the top, and both teams have some rookies currently in the thick of things. That’s just the way it goes in Ryder Cup qualifying.
Right now, the European team is looking stronger on paper. That is a shocker because it’s usually the othe way around. Maybe that’s a great sign for the United States team. They may actually go into the Ryder Cup as the underdog for once, and maybe they will be victorious in the process. However, the European team may still whip them for the third consecutive time. If I had to put some money on the line, it would go towards the European team. My heart is with the United States, but my brain is with the Europeans. Here’s hoping my brain isn’t functioning when September rolls around.
That’s all I have to say this week. After my breakdown of each team, who do you think has the best chance to win the 2006 Ryder Cup? Who would be your captain’s picks on the European side right now? Finally, who will be the surprise this year for Europe, if anyone? If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in our forum. Thanks for reading this edition of Thrash Talk!
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