Davis Love: 'Hard to imagine' no Tiger, Phil on Ryder Cup

[mvmac]

Do you think Tiger or Phil make Love’s squad in 2016?

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/associated-press/hard-imagine-no-tiger-no-phil-ryder-cup/

Quote:

Captain Davis Love III said it's hard to envision a U.S. team without Woods or Mickelson, but the two are no longer certainties as the Americans try to solve the European stranglehold on the Ryder Cup.

Woods is ranked 299th in the world and recently underwent another back surgery. Mickelson is ranked 23rd, but hasn't won since the British Open in 2013.

''It would be hard to imagine,'' Love said Tuesday at a year-out press conference at Hazeltine. ''They're all my teammates that I've played with. We're all getting older.''

[Infamous 273]

I voted just Phil, but I don't know. This was the first year a 40 y/o wasn't playing in the Tour Championship (JF WD), so who knows if either of them will qualify or receive a captain's pick - its not getting any easier for the two of them, that's for sure.

[Patch]

If they are injured, or otherwise playing like they are now, they should not be on RC team. Love III needs to go with the players who are playing their best golf at the time just leading up to the RC. Losing experience is just that. Time for some new blood in this contest.

[Gunther]

Neither, too many good young players. No Furyk either. It will be odd, for sure but I like our chances.

[Dave2512]

Hard to predict. I'm not ready to declare guys like Haas, Reed and Kirk to be better than any of the old guys. Part of the problem for the PM and TW types is they cherry pick events, typically only play the biggest events with the toughest fields etc. The young guys are more hungry and get out there for everything and pile up points placing high in the BFE Open stuff. Phil is getting up there but Tiger won't be 41 yet when the 2016 RC rolls around, all about heath with him.

[nevets88]

Well, if he's not on the team, Woods could still be there as a vice-captain.

Tiger Woods agrees to be 2016 Ryder Cup vice-captain if he doesn't make team

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devil-ball-golf/tiger-woods-agrees-to-be-2016-ryder-cup-vice-captain-if-he-doesn-t-make-team-014959225.html

[MrDC]

I don't think it's hard to imagine, actually it's harder to imagine them on the team at this point.

[jbishop15]

I think they both make it. I never count out Tiger or Phil.

[Spitfisher]

I put just phil. Nothing for nothing but tiger has not played well in the RC as of late 0-3-1 his last time. Even his victories seem pretty lack luster, more of a case could be made he didn't lose the match than to say he beat someone. Also in recent RCs it seems they have to appease him, with who hes going to play with. He certainly is a shell of himself lately, his play has deminshed, his putting is OK and he can't to put a string of great rounds together. It makes the choice easy. Ryder cups should be this countrys best (present) players. Tiger is not one of them and I would also throw Keagan Bradley and a couple of others into that group of the same

[newtogolf]

I also voted just Phil, he is good for morale and provides some maturity and experience to the team.  I don't see Tiger playing well enough to warrant a captains pick.

[Braivo]

I voted just Tiger. Both of these guys are just too competitive to count out, but Phil seems to be fading slowly while Tiger, if he gets his back healthy, could make a big bounce back. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I'd love to see Tiger's intensity on that team.

[SavvySwede]

I don't think it's hard to imagine, actually it's harder to imagine them on the team at this point.

Ditto. I think the golf world is more than prepared for this eventuality. They've been out of the spotlight for a while already.

[isukgolf]

I would go with the young guns. Perhaps an assistant caption spot for one of them??? If any one of them do make it, I think it would be Phil.

[Scotsclaff]

I hope they both play well next year and both make the team but I voted only for Phil.

Tiger's injuries and surgery will be too much.

[skydog]

I voted neither but would love to see both of them have one more shot at it. I think any level of consistently good play for Phil is done (not that he was ever consistent)....I still think he'll pop up on leaderboards every now and then on the few courses he always plays well on, but I'd be surprised if he could do it enough next year to make a case for the RC. As for Tiger, most folks know my opinion on his future prospects but who knows. Even if I put on my rose colored glasses, I'm guessing he won't be playing again until maybe Augusta? and it would seem like a real long shot for his game to round in to any kind of form before the picks come out in August.

Edited October 2, 2015 by skydog

[14ledo81]

I would like to see them both make it.  Don't think that's going to happen though.

[Broke100Once]

They should both be assistant captains to prepare them for their inevitable stints as Ryder Cup captain.  Phil could captain the team as soon as 2018, in fact.

[Pendragon]

Right now I think Phil would be on the team on points, but obviously that could change between now and next September. As for Tiger, I think he'd need to come back pretty strong in 2016 to have a shot to be on the team. The fact that he's already said yes to being a vice-captain doesn't show that's he's overly confident about playing his way on.