“My nephew, Stephen, has had a tremendous year, and I’d love to see him picked. But I’ve always believed that rookies need to play their way onto the team.”
Having captained Europe’s Ryder Cup team three times, I know exactly how that it feels to have to make wildcard picks and I don’t envy Paul’s predicament for one minute.
But I expect him to opt for experience when choosing his three wild-cards for the Ryder Cup.
On that basis, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald will be the players receiving the good news in the next 36 hours.
Despite struggling with form and fitness in 2014, I believe Poulter is nailed-on for Gleneagles. His previous Ryder Cup appearances, and especially his efforts at Medinah, just can’t be forgotten. His five straight birdies to win his fourball match on that Saturday afternoon swung the Cup in Europe’s favour. You simply wouldn’t want to face the Americans without him.
It’s not just the points that he brings, but the positive attitude and the never-say-die spirit. That is infectious and spreads through the rest of the team.
Paul was involved as a vice-captain in the last two Ryder Cups, and he’ll have seen at close quarters the impact Poulter had in the team-room.
Lee Westwood hasn’t had the greatest year in the States, but his response to Paul’s open demand for form should be enough. His 62 in the final round at Firestone followed by a good week at the US PGA, were what the captain ordered because he wants Westwood at Gleneagles.
The player most at risk out of the trio is Donald. He has been off his game for a while and has done nothing of note all summer. But he has been on the winning team in all six of his Ryder Cup and Walker Cup appearances. That is no fluke.
One of the big reasons we lost at Valhalla in 2008 was because Luke was missing with injury. He’s the perfect Foursomes partner and the captain knows the importance of partnerships.
My nephew, Stephen, has had a tremendous year, and I’d love to see him picked. But I’ve always believed that rookies need to play their way onto the team. But being Scottish could work to his advantage as that would stir up the crowds even more. He also has a good record at Gleneagles. We’ll have to see if those factors sway Paul’s thinking in any way.
This is the hardest time for the captain as it’s never easy telling someone they’ve not made the team.
I remember having to inform Ronan Rafferty that I’d picked Joakim Haeggman ahead of him in 1993. Thankfully he accepted it with good grace.
The good thing for Paul is that he has all of tomorrow to make the decision and compose himself ahead of the announcement on Tuesday.
I had to do a Press Conference on the Sunday night, immediately after the final qualifying tournament and it was all a bit rushed.
Over in the USA, Hunter Mahan’s victory in the first of the play-offs last Sunday will have been welcome news for Tom Watson. I’d be very surprised if Mahan wasn’t now in the team as one of the three captain’s picks.
I also expect Keegan Bradley to be selected, so he can resume his unbeaten partnership with Phil Mickelson.
However, the last one might be a surprise and I have a sneaking suspicion Tom will opt for Bill Haas. Haas is a very consistent player, who hardly ever misses a cut, and he’s played well in the Presidents Cup before. At 32, he’s the right age and he doesn’t have any baggage from previous Ryder Cup defeats.
Plus he has family history spurring him on as he’s desperate to follow in the footsteps of father Jay. In 1995, Jay lost the final Singles to Philip Walton, which won us the Cup.
As a young lad, Bill will have seen what effect that had on his dad, and he’ll use that as motivation if he makes it to Gleneagles.
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