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Selection headache for McGinley

By: Adam Smith | Wed 23 Jul 2014


With just over a month remaining until Paul McGinley has to pick his three wildcards for the battle at Gleneagles, we have a look at the dilemma facing this year's Ryder Cup captain.


The old footballing cliché of having a ‘selection headache’ is always a good situation for a manager as he has free reigns to choose his starting 11. This could happen every week and rotation is the in word these days to keep players happy.

So spare a thought then for Paul McGinley who has the arduous task of picking three players for his Ryder Cup team in September which will mean leaving out some star names. There’s no rotation policy here, every two years nine or ten players depending on the captain’s choice qualify by merit and then it’s down to that captain to pick players for his remaining spots. The usual line of ‘I’ll only pick players on form’ has inevitably been mentioned and warning shots have been fired to the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter over their indifferent seasons to date. Two stalwarts of the European Team in recent years, could the unthinkable happen that these two won’t be at Gleneagles this year?

Nine qualifiers

The four qualifying from the European points list as it stands are Open Champion Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson and Henrik Stenson, add the five from the World points list who have not already qualified, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, US Open Champion Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn who is making his return to the playing team after a 12 year absence and Luke Donald.

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Donald is hanging onto his spot by a thread with only nine points separating him between his nearest challenger Stephen Gallacher who is having his best season on the European Tour. (It’s worth pointing out that Donaldson is a place behind Donald in the World points list but as he qualifies from the European points list this puts Gallacher behind Donald). McGinley could lean towards Gallacher as along with his steady golf being a Scot will give the home crown even more reason to cheer.

Pick and choose

McGinley has until the end of the Italian Open which ends on Sunday 31st August to make his picks and who would want to be in his shoes then?

Two big events are approaching so a lot could change between now and the end of August with the World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio beginning a week before the US PGA Championship at Valhalla the scene of the last USA triumph in the Ryder Cup back in 2008. A lot of points are on offer during those two weeks.

If Donald was to drop out of automatic qualifying then he would join the list including Westwood, Poulter who was a captain’s pick in 2008 and 2012 and Greame McDowell, four giants of the European Tour and all involved in the 'Miracle at Medinah’ two years ago.

So the big names have been mentioned but is it fair to say the three picks are going to come from those four players? Along with Gallacher there are a number of players who are enjoying fruitful seasons on tour and as McGinley suggests, these players on form should be considered.

After an impressive display in The Open last week Francesco Molinari is looking back to his best and would make an ideal foursomes partner as his renowned straight hitting would be key to helping put points on the board. The Flying Dutchman Joost Luiten has eight top-20 finishes this year and would provide the rookie spirit that is sometimes needed. As it stands he would be alongside Dubuisson and Donaldson in the rookie ranks if picked. Jonas Blixt who plays on the PGA Tour is another one who has had an impressive season. The Florida State graduate had a second place finish at The Masters along with one top-ten and ten cuts made in 18 starts. Blixt would surely be a good fit to pair alongside compatriot Stenson.

I’ve mentioned Poulter being a pick at Medinah last time out but can anyone remember who captain Olazabel picked alongside him? The Belgian Bomber Nicolas Colsaerts has had a pretty poor season so his pick would certainly be a shock.

Vintage years

Is it conceivable to say we shouldn’t consider the old guard with the choices on offer to McGinley? Raymond Floyd is currently the oldest player to compete in the Ryder Cup at 51 years old back in 1993. At the same age Colin Montgomerie is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence on the Seniors Tour winning back-to-back majors and will contest a third at this week’s Senior British Open. One of Europe’s greatest ever Ryder Cup players Montgomerie has scored 23.5 points in his eight appearances and was a victorious captain at Celtic Manor in 2010.

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And what of one of Europe’s favourite sons? Just a year younger than Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez has won 21 times on the European Tour including the Open de Espana in May of this year. Add that win to the Hong Kong Open title he won at the end of last year The Mechanic could certainly hold his own in the team and would be a very popular member in the team room. Add in the fact that he sits above a few names I’ve already mentioned in the points list right now, would he really be a surprise pick?

Surprise picks

Along with Bjorn what do Edoardo Molinari, Paul Casey and Paul Lawrie have in common? Along with being on past winning Ryder Cup teams they have all won on the PGA Centenary Course that will host this year’s competition, for Casey it’s twice in 2001 and 2006. Past experience of being victorious on the course could give them a slight advantage but with a few changes being made to the Jack Nicklaus design course by McGinley it’s not really going to be the deciding factor for them.

Decision time

I’ve mentioned a number of players that McGinley could call upon and there’s many more that haven’t even come into my consideration, some are more obvious than others but one thing’s for sure it’s going to be a tough decision when the time finally arrives.

My picks would be Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood which would mean leaving out one of either Donald or Gallacher, a tough decision but one that has to be made. With swing changes being made by Donald he just hasn’t been at the races this year even on the greens he’s not been as reliable as he once was. Gallacher’s omission would be tough and going on form he should be in there but in my opinion if the American’s saw that both Donald and Westwood weren’t playing, which could happen, I think they’d be saying quietly to themselves, ‘we’ve got a chance here fellas.’ Even on paper those big names can strike fear into the opposition.

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Over the years you’ve heard players say that the Ryder Cup is won by the team that holes the most putts and makes the most birdies and on that evidence Westwood just hasn’t cut it. He’s struggled with the short stick all season and you can argue even further back than that. However tee to green he’s still considered to be one of the best around. He has eight appearances already in the Ryder Cup and this year bears somewhat of a resemblance to 2006 when he was a captain’s pick alongside Darren Clarke. At The K Club Westwood showed how his game can come together at the right time playing in every match, remaining unbeaten and winning four points from a possible five. This is why he would be one of my picks.

That ability to come up with the goods when it matters is why I’ve stumped for Poulter and McDowell, two players that have proved in previous Ryder Cups and majors that when the pressure is on their golf comes alight and momentum is everything when important points are at stake. They are also ideal partners for many names that will definitely be at Gleneagles. McGinley has been assured that any rift that was between McDowell and McIlory has been sorted out giving him a partnership that is sure to lead Europe off on the opening morning.

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We all know what Poulter can do when he gets fired up and ‘Mr Ryder Cup’ will be looking for much the same if he gets the call again.

The team of 2012 was said to be one of the strongest teams that Europe has ever sent into a Ryder Cup but I’m excited for this year. I’m looking forward to seeing how Dubuisson handles the pressure, the cool calm Frenchman doesn’t seem flustered by anything that is thrown at him. The steady hands of Rose, Stenson and Kaymer will be vital and the experience of Garcia and Bjorn will be as important as anything, along with both having the ability to raise their game when needed.

I just love the Ryder Cup and come Friday 26 September I will be glued to my TV screen as will many a golf fan around the world.

Question is who would be your picks?

Image Credit: via Twitter


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