• Tour Talk
  • President's Cup Australia 2019 - Captain Tiger's 4 at-large picks?

I kinda like watching full field Euro tour events more than The PGA. The American players come across as a lot of pain in the ass cry baby nerds with Reed leading the way. What happened to the Palmer, Trevino and Couples fun loving likable types? At least we donโ€™t have to watch cry baby Speith and maybe โ€œI love myselfโ€ Koepka.

Rotf at Tiger picking himself....so much for providing players with a stage to prep and evaluate for the RC....with decisions like this no wonder Europe hands US their ass so often. Makes it so easy to cheer against.

thankfully this event is very low on the radar and meaningless

    Weirfan thankfully this event is very low on the radar and meaningless

    The reason I thought he would not pick himself. But I do think he was pressured by his fellow golfers to do such.
    I don't even agree with the Finau pick, let alone Reed. Several other players out there in much better form, now, and throughout last season.

    I'm now hoping that a couple of Ernie's players come up 'sick' Sat. night. Just to force him to play against Tiger on Sun.. It would make the whole Cup thing interesting.

      Par4QC Several other players out there in much better form, now,

      Who may I ask has played well, with results, the last few months that weren't already on the team? Tiger told them ALL to keep playing post the FedEx Championship, especially those hoping to be invited to join the team. Kevin Na won the Shriner's so I'm hoping he is the first alternate and goes if Brooks can't. I can't think of others that have had stellar starts to the new season.

      I haven't read one analysis from the industry that has been critical of Tiger's picks, including tapping himself. (I'm sure they are out there, just not by the ones I subscribe to...)

      Par4QC I don't even agree with the Finau pick

      The Number 9 Guy is the reason Paddy Harrington changed his strategy to 3 Captain's Picks.
      He said nobody (or almost nobody) has ever NOT chosen that guy in the past.

      As I said before (and now Weirfan), it's a missed opportunity to set up the future for the RC.
      BIG HEAD couldn't help himself, to no one's surprise of course.

        Spuzz BIG HEAD couldn't help himself, to no one's surprise of course.

        I will say, in case I've been misunderstood, I do not believe a Captain should ever play in any matches, Ryder, President's, or any other cups. I don't care who they may be, or how good they may be, current or past.

        That aside, Tiger did pick all of the highest ranked U.S. players to go with the other highest ranked players that were automatically qualified. And they all just happen to be the highest ranked Americans in the world. Rickie is the only one out of place, but that was his own fault; Matt played superbly all season. 'On paper', it looks like he did the right thing.

        Plus, there are a lot of freebies that go along with being on the team. The guys that have been around, paid their dues, should be deserving of them. The younger guys will have many chances to reap their just rewards in the years to come. Everyone on this team appears they earned their spot, Tiger included, even if I don't agree with him playing.

          Par4QC I do not believe a Captain should ever play in any matches

          I agree.
          Should be an older, retired guy, who has also paid his dues and is rewarded in his twilight years.

          As I said earlier, if they were really interested in just winning, he picked the right squad.
          If they were thinking ahead and wanted to make it interesting for the fans and also set up the future, then two of the picks (Reed and Woods) are not the right ones.

          No matter to me, I will be watching hockey.
          ๐Ÿ˜‰

            Spuzz Totally agree, esp. with the 1st sentence.

            I do, however, totally disagree with the hockey thing. I'd rather be watching those badminton tourneys. ๐Ÿคฃ Which I also will not be watching, btw.

              Par4QC totally disagree with the hockey thing

              LOL
              I will give your lack of taste a hall pass.
              ๐Ÿ˜‰

              12 days later

              Looks like Koepka withdrew from the Prez Cup and TW named Fowler to
              replace him.
              NOT a great move IMO.
              Rickie hasn't even played in a couple months or so.
              Would rather have seen Na or maybe even the current hot player Brendon Todd given a shot,.

                darpar NOT a great move IMO.

                Stupid pick, but not surprised.
                All about the now and no vision for the future not to mention making the team on "form" and " merit" is out the window too.
                Good grief.
                Go Hadwin!
                lol

                The cynic in me wonders if the amount of corporate sponsorship that goes with the name has any significant bearing on the choices?

                Rickie was the 'next in line'.

                When some captains make picks that are not what we expect, we do a lot of 'discussing(bitching)' about it. iirc, we gave a certain captain hell because of her picks recently. And, probably, we've gave others a good dis-cussing for the off the wall choices(favoritism) also. Tiger has gone down the line(world rankings) with his choices. As he should. No one can feel slighted, in the least.

                  Par4QC Tiger has gone down the line(world rankings) with his choices. As he should. No one can feel slighted, in the least.

                  This is fair, as long as there is no more talk of being in form, hot streak and whatnot.
                  Maybe the US should just pick by rankings alone and be done with it.
                  They obviously lack any intuition, or should I say guts?

                  I don't feel slighted.
                  In other news, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired their over hyped and over paid coach yesterday...
                  ๐Ÿ˜‰

                    It does seem strange to have captain's picks if the accepted action is to pick straight down the line of the rankings. I can't really say that I care either way though. Hope Ricky has a good competition and everyone has a good time.

                    Spuzz Should be an older, retired guy, who has also paid his dues and is rewarded in his twilight years.

                    +1 I don't think an active PGA player should be picked as captain.

                    Spuzz Maybe the US should just pick by rankings alone and be done with it.

                    ๐Ÿ‘๏ธ Me likey. A player plays his way onto the team. It takes the politics, pissing and moaning out of the process.

                    Spuzz
                    "Maybe the US should just pick by rankings alone and be done with it".

                    If that's the case/criteria,then what's the point of having 4 picks?
                    Just take the top 12 US players by World Rankings and be done with it.
                    I believe it was Azinger who said he wanted his picks to be guys who were
                    in form and playing well at the time of him making his choices.
                    Theoretically you could have a player who was hot early in the season,
                    and moved up high in the World Rankings.
                    BUT in recent months leading up to the Prez/Ryder Cups,
                    just completely lose their game,miss cuts,etc.
                    Should that player be chosen just because of their status/points in the WGR?

                      darpar If that's the case/criteria,then what's the point of having 4 picks?

                      That's my point exactly.
                      Having the Captain's picks is to allow for flexibility for the scenario you described.
                      Early success, sucky late form, guy gets married etc.
                      The Euros almost never pick who you think they will (aside from Number 9 Guy) and they win most of the time, and also have younger guys on the roster for the future.
                      The USA (especially for this nothing President's Cup event) bollocksed it up, IMO.
                      It also looks like Old Boys Club is alive and well, imo.

                      Par4QC As he should. No one can feel slighted, in the least.

                      This statement does not mean I agree with the choosing. Some of these guys have dropped considerably down the rankings due to poor play throughout the season. I'd like to see the 'hot' hands be on course, as others would.

                      Tiger was being politically correct. ugh.