ode
I think Furyk has an allegiance to Woods/Mickelson, and more so Mickelson (at this current point) than Woods. I think Tiger has more than earned his pick. Mickelson - we'll see. I still think he'll get picked, but if he bottoms out over the next 3 weeks - who knows. That suddenly isn't a sure thing if he continues to struggle like he has.
But Furyk isn't an idiot. Putting Woods and Mickelson together, the two alpha males, the best two players in the past two decades of playing, while enticing as it might seem... as much as it might generate buzz and interest for the Ryder Cup - I think Jim understands that he'd be trying to mix water with oil with that pairing. Why put either of them in that situation, if you're wanting to win and get the most out of what they have to offer the team from a RC veteran point of view?
It's been tried before. And failed miserably, despite the fact that both of these guys were 14 years younger, much more competitive, and much more finely tuned with their games when it was last attempted.
Ain't happening. Why on earth would you put two guys together who can't find a fairway? It would be a recipe for failure.
As much as he would hate losing, he doesn't want to face the Monday Morning Quarterbacking from the reporters asking why he chose to do that, and continue to be asked that for the next 2 years.
Furyk's smarter than that. Or so I hope anyway.
Which is why Bjorn and Sutton both hope that he has such an epic brainfart and decides to give it another try.