Wednesday September 5, 2012
Love names wildcard picks for American Ryder Cup team
NEW YORK: US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love named Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker as his captain’s wildcard picks for the American Ryder Cup team yesterday.
Snedeker was chosen for his first Ryder Cup because of his stellar putting touch in the past month.
“We need hot putters,” Love said. “There really hasn’t been a better putter since the British Open.”
The Americans will face holders Europe in the 39th edition of the biennial team golf matches on Sept 28-30 at Medinah near Chicago.
“I look forward to getting to Medinah and trying to make Davis look like he is a genius,” Snedeker said.
Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar qualified for the American side based upon points accumulated in tournaments through last month’s PGA Championship.
“I think we have a great team,” Love said. “We’re extremely deep this time, deeper than we have ever been.
“There were a lot of guys who played a lot of good golf. It was tough to leave anybody off. It was a tough call for me.” Hunter Mahan, a two-time US PGA winner this year who has struggled in recent months, was not selected for the squad.
Furyk, making his eighth Ryder Cup start, and Stricker, another US veteran of team events, were joined by Dustin Johnson, who made his second Ryder Cup squad.
“I’m really looking forward to playing one on US soil,” Dustin Johnson said.
“I can’t be more excited,” Furyk said.
Love said he was counting on veteran leadership from Stricker on and off the course.
“We all know how much fun it is and how much pride it takes to be part of this team,” Stricker said. “It will be exciting to play for Davis. It will be tremendous to get together for that one common goal and get that Cup back.” — AFP
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