Couples for Ryder Cup Captain?

[mvmac]

Tiger thinks so.  I don't know how much of it has to do with the captain, the Euro's play lights out in the Ryder Cup.  I did like Azinger's "pod" system.

Quote:

Tiger Woods believes two-time Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples would make a great leader of the American Ryder Cup team in 2014 and beyond.

In a year-end post on his website, Woods commended Couples' style in leading the U.S. side to a victory at Harding Park in 2009 and a successful defense at Royal Melbourne last month.

"I've heard people question whether Fred would be a good Ryder Cup captain, and I just don't get it,” Woods said. “I think that Fred is a great captain. Whether it's The Presidents Cup or the Ryder Cup, it doesn't matter.”

"The way he keeps us loose and how much fun we have – it's just great to play for him. He's a lot more competitive than people realize. He just doesn't show it. He shows it with us around, but the public doesn't see it."

Couples was lauded at Royal Melbourne for his ability to keep the stress level low in the team room. His laid-back style was endorsed by his charges as likely being effective in the more fierce rivalry with Europe.

“Would Freddie make a great Ryder Cup captain? Absolutely,” Woods said in Australia last month. “He’s just a great captain, period. He’s fun to play for."

Four-time Presidents Cup captain Jack Nicklaus and 1996 captain Arnold Palmer have led the American team in the Ryder Cup as well.

Couples has not been asked to help any Ryder Cup captain, including 2012 head honcho Davis Love III. Couples could be captain in 2014, when the Ryder Cup is contested at Gleneagles in Scotland. An American victory there would be its first on foreign soil in 21 years.

[uttexas]

Yes, Couples is overdue for Ryder Cup Captain. The Internationals were big favorites (in my mind), going into the President's cup. The Internationals had home court (won there in 1998) and three players in the top nine OWGR, Stricker was wounded, all the Tiger issues, Furyk question marks, and DJ not bringing his A game. It seemed that the only things USA had going for it was that Greg Norman a legendary choker was captaining the Internationals and Stevie Williams fiasco; ok, and Tiger's game seemed to be improving. Couples is 2-0 in his two consecutive President's cup victories as captain. The players like him and he's popular with the media, which I feel are the two most important factors when deciding on a Ryder Cup captain. Going back to 1989, only Colin Montgomerie breaks the trend of the more like-able "cooler" captain winning. 2010 Pavin, Montgomerie Europe wins 2008 Azinger, Faldo USA wins 2006 Lehman, Woosman Europe wins 2004 Sutton, Langer Europe wins 2002 Strange, Torrence Europe wins 1999 Crenshaw, James USA wins 1997 Kite, Seve Europe wins 1995 Wadkins, Gallacher Europe wins 1993 Watson, Gallacher USA wins 1991 Stockton, Gallacher USA wins 1989 Floyd, Jacklin Europe wins

[makaveli]

Couples would be a nice captain but remember that Ryder is way different from the friendly President Cup... Don't think Hunter Mahan would have cried in the press room after fluffing a shot at the President Cup...

(imho)