Weekend Wrap

So, how's your PGA Tour offseason going so far?  Glad to hear, because it's pretty much over....  We do have a little weekend action to wrap, though that action is more interesting as an amuse-bouche for that late September event....

A shocking result from the European Tour's flagship event:

It was wild. It was wonderful. And it was ultimately ironic. As the endless intricacies of the European Ryder Cup qualification played out in the background, the BMW PGA Championship was

claimed by an American, Billy Horschel. He won it well, too. The wedge Horschel hit to Wentworth’s par-5 18th green finished so close he didn’t need to take a proper stance before tapping-in. It was the Floridian’s 24th birdie of the week, closing out a seven-under 65 and took him to 19-under 269, just good enough to beat a trio of runners-up, Laurie Canter, Jamie Donaldson and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Horschel is the first American to win the European Tour’s most prestigious title since Arnold Palmer in 1975. His winning smile was matched only by those on the faces of Bernd Wiesberger and Lee Westwood. The Austrian and the Englishman clinched the last two automatic qualifying spots on the Old World side that will defend the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in two weeks.

I could make a joke about it always being shocking when Billy Ho wins, but that would be needlessly snarky.  It's hard to win out there, and credit the man for making the trip, though I didn't realize he's made something of a habit of it:

Still, that Horschel should play so well over the iconic West course at Wentworth—and move up to second place on the European Tour's season-long Race to Dubai standings—is no real surprise. Two years ago, Horschel made the trip across the Atlantic to the European Tour’s flagship event and was rewarded with a T-4 finish. Two rounds of 65 were the highlights of a 15-under-par 273 that left him alongside compatriot Patrick Reed, five shots behind the winner, former Masters champion Danny Willett.

Iconic?  I'd think formerly iconic would be more accurate, after Ernie's desecration of the joint.  Still one of my favorite stories that I've blogged over the years, but I need to not be distracted by shiny objects this morning.

It's far from uncommon to see these guys manufacture grievances for motivational purposes, though this one sounds even more juvenile than most:

There was one discordant note. On the back of a mediocre run of form after winning the WGC-

Dell Match Play title earlier in March, Horschel wasn’t expecting a call from U.S. Ryder Cup skipper Steve Stricker to tell him he had made the team. But he didn’t get a call to tell him he wasn’t in either. Which was disappointing.

“It sucks not making the team,” Horschel said. “I didn't play consistent enough and well enough after I won the Match Play to warrant a pick or to get enough points to be an automatic selection. But I was a little gutted I didn't get a call this week. I didn't think the call was going to say I made the team, but I was a little gutted that I didn't get a call to say, ‘You didn't make the team.’ I thought I would at least get that. There was a little more added motivation this week after that.”

I though it was nice of captain Stricker to make clear that it wasn't you, it was him.... But, seriously, how many also-rans is the captain required to call?  I know there was a little boomlet of support for the guy when he won the match-play, but that seems a galaxy far, far away.  This is his record since:

The finniest part of Bill Ho making a thing out of this?  The Captain seems to have opted for the over-communication strategy:

“I felt like they deserved hearing it from me,” Stricker said. “You know, throughout this whole process I was keeping in touch with 20 to 25 guys throughout this whole deal. I probably called another five or six guys I think just to touch base with them to let them know where we stood.

Doesn't seem like Billy was in Strick's Top 30, so he might want to just enjoy his win and leave it at that...Billy seems a little at sea about how one gets along well with others, because calling out Stricker for not delivering the news seems at odds with this pipe dream:

Question: Going back to The Ryder Cup, there is obviously some injury, maybe doubts about Brooks Koepka and if Steve Stricker did make the call, I presume you might not be so ticked and you'd be there straightaway?

Horschel: Listen, I don't know what's going to happen. I know Brooks had to withdraw last week at The Tour Championship. He's an unbelievable player and it would be a big blow to the United States team if he's not able to play. If somehow a phone call comes my way that says Brooks had to withdraw and I got picked, I'd be over the moon. I mean, I'd be up there faster than, you know, the speed of sound to get there.

But we'll see what happens. Like I said, I haven't — there's rumors and sometimes you can't always believe the rumors but as far as I know they have got 12 guys that are healthy and ready to play golf and I'm ready to sit on the couch and wear my red, white and blue and support the team.

OK, I think he needs to keep his phone charged and nearby... But I'd suggest that he park himself on that very couch as he awaits Captain Stricker's call, just so he won't have far to go on the off chance it never rings...

Now the more significant aspect of the weekend's results is the impact on the Euro Ryder Cup team, beginning with the finalization of automatic qualifiers:

Of course, they were playing a golf tournament at Wentworth this weekend. However, the BMW PGA Championship doubled as a game of Ryder Cup musical chairs. Five of the nine automatic

qualifying spots for Team Europe were already locked up (Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland) before the week started, with the other four to be decided by how the rest of the contenders finished in the European Tour’s flagship event.

Truth be told, two of those remaining places had essentially been sewed up, too, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick safely on captain Padraig Harrington’s team even after the former missed the cut in his title defense.

Confusing? Perhaps. But exciting, too. Not to mention nerve-wracking.

But lest you think this will result in a Darwinian, seize the day kind of moment, reality is far more muddled:

On Sunday, Wiesberger played solid if not spectacular golf, shooting a closing even-par 72 that left him in tied for 20th place for the tournament, enough to get the 35-year-old Austrian inside the top five on the Euro points list and securing a place on his first Ryder Cup team.

Lowey, trying to make his first Ryder Cup team, similarly couldn’t get many putts to fall in his final round. Needing a finish somewhere in the top six to pass Westwood on the points list, a one-under 71 left the 2019 Open champion in a T-17.

That meant Westwood picked up the last automatic qualifying spot despite a horrendous final round. After making birdies on the opening two holes, the 48-year-old Englishman went bogey-double-double to finish the front nine in three over. On the 11th, he then made a triple-bogey 7 and stumbled home to a 77 and a T-71 finish.

Which left Shane Lowry on the outside looking in... Though not for long:

Team Europe has finalized its Ryder Cup squad. Padraig Harrington announced in a press

conference Sunday afternoon that Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter will round out his team of 12 that will travel to Whistling Straits later this month.

“I have a great team,” Harrington said. “I have a great team of ball-strikers — probably the best team of ball-strikers Europe have ever sent out in a Ryder Cup … They’re good enough to deliver”

Garcia and Poulter were thought to be the most secure captain’s picks for Harrington as the two have anchored the European side for the last two decades. Garcia is the all-time European points leader with 25.5, while Poulter has served as the emotional spark for Team Europe, going undefeated in singles play in six Ryder Cup appearances.

Lowry, who just missed out on automatic qualification, bolstered his resume with a win at the 2019 Open Championship, and has been a steady player on the PGA Tour since. The Ryder Cup rookie had four top 10s and 10 top 25s in 21 starts last season as he missed just two cuts.

Two pints to work in here.  My sense is that the results from Wentworth resulted in one change to the Euro team, that will now feature Bernd Wiesberger in lieu of Justin Rose (who I assume would have gotten Padraig's last pick had Lowry qualified).  Not earth-shattering, especially since Rose has been lost in the wilderness since forever. 

Secondly, quite a bit of whining from Lee Westwood over the schedule:

But now, some prospective members of Team Europe are sounding the alarm over what they see as inequity in the Ryder Cup — an issue they say might actually be costing them in the long run. The problem surrounds the qualifying process, and in particular, the European side’s current lack of roster clarity. While the U.S. roster was finalized shortly after the completion of the Tour Championship last weekend, the Europeans have until the completion of this week’s BMW PGA Championship to confirm the majority of their selections, giving those in the field an extra week to push for a spot on the team.

“You can see how players are reacting to it out on the golf course,” Lee Westwood said. “You know there’s people right in there, and they are shooting scores where clearly they have got other things on their mind. Yeah, there’s so many variables, as well, with the way we’ve set up the qualification this time around.”

I can certainly see his point.  Why would you want to see how the guys hold up under intense pressure?  After all, no pressure to be found in a Ryder Cup away game, right?  This event finished on September 12th and the Ryder Cup kicks off on the 24th, that's not enough time?  I guess Lee should sit on Day 1, no?  

So, shall we see how these unsurprising picks played with Golf.com's Tour Confidential panel?

3. On the other side of the pond, Sunday’s final round of the BMW PGA Championship finalized the nine automatic picks for the European Ryder Cup team, with Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger making the team. Afterward, captain Padraig Harrington went with Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Ian Poulter as his three captain’s picks. What’s your takeaway from the team? Did Harrington make the right picks?

Zak: Yes! Correct captain’s picks on both sides of the pond. My takeaway from that team is they are going to be very good. Probably the deepest Euro squad since 2012. This thing is setting up to be really, really good.

Melton: The Euros have a solid team that is laden with experience. Although the Cup will be contested in hostile territory, don’t expect the blue and yellow to be rattled easily. Harrington should feel extremely confident with the team he’s taking to Wisconsin.

Sens: Agreed. Like the US team, a great mix of youth and seasoning. Who were Harrington’s other options? Maybe you could make an outside argument for Justin Rose, based on past accomplishments, but not on recent form. Alex Noren? Nah. No second guessing of Harrington here.

Bamberger: My takeaway is that Harrington has an outstanding team, with outstanding picks, and an outstanding captain. The Europeans are the favorites, in my book. If they don’t win it’s a surprise.

Dethier: As much as I yearned for the 20-year-old Hojgaard twins to team up, there’s plenty of time for that in the future. Harrington essentially had no choice but to go back to the same formula that keeps working for Team Europe. At some point, this group of golfers won’t be the best available. But it doesn’t feel like we’re at that point yet.

As always, Captain's picks are not good or bad in isolation.  One can only judge them in comparison to the alternatives, and in this case that's quite the sorry lot.  In this case the header tells all.  When Stricker named his picks, Golf.com had an article on those that were snubbed.  In this case, the S-word was eschewed:

Who didn’t make the European Ryder Cup team: 8 players who were passed up

Once past the aforementioned Rose, for whom that case would have to be entirely historical, this is the next entry:

Victor Perez

On points alone, Perez was next man in. In the European points standings, he was eighth (ahead of Victor Hovland, who plays more of a PGA Tour schedule), and on the world points list, he was 12th (ahead of Poulter). But since the WGC-Match Play at the end of March, Perez has had just two top 20s and five missed cuts.

Of course, in golf’s lone match play event, Perez finished fourth.

Robert MacIntyre

Only 25, MacIntyre will make a few Ryder Cup teams before too long. Vice captain Graeme McDowell even said as much, telling the Courier: “Robert makes a lot of birdies. You know, he makes mistakes, like we all did when we were young. It is very hard to have the full, polished, finished article, but he is very close.”

MacIntyre’s finishes in this year’s majors say as much: a tie for 12th at the Masters; a tie for 49th at the PGA Championship; a tie for 35th at the U.S. Open; and a tie for eighth at the Open Championship.

A month ago I expected both these guys to be on the team, though logically they're of a stature that requires them to automatically qualify.  In reality, Padraig was never going to Wisconsin without Poults and Sergio.

But how do we rate this roster?

Here's the thing about the experience play, it works until it doesn't.  Sergio, Westwood and (especially) Poulter have broken our hearts far too many times to recount, but color me skeptical that there's much left in the tank.  

The Euros said all the right things about their opponents, including this from Sergio:

“Yes, it's a good side, I'm not going to lie, a lot of new faces,” he said of the Americans. “I'll be expecting a lot of energy on their behalf,” he said from his Texas home. “But like I said, mostly -- most of the times we are underdogs, and it's the right thing because on paper, and when it comes down to World Rankings and stuff like that, they are a little bit stronger than we are. But we have a lot of heart. We have a lot of great feel between us, and that's something that that is difficult to putt on paper.”

It's strong on paper for sure, even historically strong:

How is that OWGR number even mathematically possible?  If you had the top twelve players in the world on your roster the average would be 6.5...

Which means, don't you think, that the U.S. team will go down hard?  At the very least, let's hope that Stricker doesn't introduce his guys as the twelve best players in the world.

Before we head for the exit, let's see how that TC panel like Strick's Picks:

1. On Wednesday, Steve Stricker named his six captain’s picks for the U.S. team that will play in next week’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, choosing Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. Which pick do you think will have the most impact on the U.S. side?

Sean Zak: Spieth. He’s (surely) going to be paired up with Justin Thomas and his wobbly putter. The Spieth magic on the greens coupled with elite ballstriking from JT should be as formidable as any duo at Whistling Straits. Could easily see them playing together four times. Just need to figure out what to name them … The J&J?

Ummm, have you actually looked at Jordan's record in these team comps?  The man has never won a singles match in either competition.  My assumption is that by Sunday he's gassed (Sergio has had a similar issue), and that the one thing Strick should absolutely not do is play him in all five sessions.  Given that Jordan is a marginal candidate for Foursomes, I'd pair him with JT in Fourballs and sit him in alternate shot.

Zephyr Melton: Scottie Scheffler. The kid is not afraid of the big stage — as evidenced by his play in majors — and he’s long enough off the tee to really take advantage of Whistling Straits. Call me a Texas homer, but in the words of another Longhorn great, “I have a good feeling about this.”

Josh Sens: Spieth is a good call. Next up, my gut goes with the gutty Daniel Berger. I’ll borrow from Zephyr, who’s borrowing from Ben Crenshaw, when I say I’ve got a feeling about him. One of those bulldogs who is going to be really hard to shake.

Michael Bamberger: I only consider Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler as true captain’s picks. Of that group, Scheffler. He seems the most big-time to me, or big-time in the making.

Dylan Dethier: Schauffele. He and Cantlay, alongside JT and Spieth, feel like the American tandems that will play the most matches and ultimately determine the result of this one.

And the ones that got away?

2. Among the players Stricker did not pick for the team were Patrick Reed, Kevin Na, Will Zalatoris, Webb Simpson, Sam Burns, Jason Kokrak, Billy Horschel and Kevin Kisner. Stricker admitted to losing sleep over the Reed selection. If he had an alternate 13th pick, whom would you advise him to take, and why?

Fair enough but, given the Koepka injusry situation, isn't this more than just a hypothetical? 

Zak: If he was being honest about losing sleep over Reed, then he should probably go with Reed in that hypothetical. I understand the easy argument against Reed, but if he was considered so thoroughly, I’m not sure why anyone else would merit it more in Stricker’s eyes.

Melton: Kevin Na was in superb form coming down the stretch, so if you want to add a hot player, he’s your guy. However, we know Patrick Reed performs his best with a chip on his shoulder. What better motivator than getting passed over the first time around?

Sens: Most of us lose sleep over irrational things. In the plain light of day, not picking Reed, given his recent health issues, to say nothing of the chemistry problems that arose last time around, makes perfect sense. I have no beef with Stricker’s picks, but Na would be my next call if I had to make one — such a gritty player who has been in such great form.

Bamberger: Perfectly said, Josh. I’d take Na in a minute, because he’s a superb putter under pressure, he’s annoying, he wants it, and it’s his last best chance, in all likelihood.

Dethier: My instinct is Burns, but the more I go ’round and ’round on this I keep coming back to Reed as the proper fill-in. If you and a bunch of buddies were going in on a beach house together for the summer, you’d really want to focus on group chemistry. But the point of this team is to win one weekend. Gimme the wild card who irrationally wants this — maybe he’ll light a fire under more docile teammates.

I think team bonding and chemistry are way over-rated, but Stricker has taken a first step towards reinstating public hygiene and I'm really hoping that he has the courage of his convictions.  Because PReed had a typically matures reaction to not being chosen:

Patrick Reed likes tweets ripping ‘coward’ Ryder Cup captain after snub

Yes, the man hiding behind Justine and burner Twitter account likes when the Ryder Cup captain is called a coward... Sheesh, do we have any standards at all?

Before we go, that Shipnuck mailbag we featured yesterday has a couple of bits relevant hereto:

You’re Captain Stricker … who do you pair with Cantlay on Day 1? @HofSpillane

The great thing about Cantlay is he has the game and demeanor to play with anyone (except apparently Beefy Boi). I like Cantlay as a steadying influence on Jordan Spieth in fourballs. In foursomes, how about a killer combo with Collin Morikawa? It can’t be fun to play against two guys who never miss a shot.

I have assumed all along that the Cantlay-X-Man Prez Cup pairing would be reprised at Whistling Straits, but Alan is far from the only guy that considers that an open issue.  They will play foursomes in the morning, so perhaps Alan took this in the wrong order.  It seems to this observer a mortal lock that Morikawa and Cantlay will both play that session, I'd just be slightly surprised if it's in each other's company.  

This is the perfect exit bit:

Why can’t Americans putt? #AskAlan @masmacho

They can … but only during stroke-play events with bloated purses.

Coupled with the fact that Euros that traditionally struggle on the greens, from Montgomery to Garcia, do a spot-on impression of Bobby Locke in the Ryder Cup, that explains decades of "upsets".

 I'll leave you here.  The next couple of days will be tough for blogging, but we'll continue to flood the zone with Ryder Cup coverage.