I guess they figured we were going to get our asses handed to us anyway, so don't bludgeon a new guy but this is uninspiring. I guess it's somewhat indicative of our Ryder Cup issues and Tiger's individual dominance of the early 2000s that there are just no good candidates.

The only potential redeeming piece to this pick: he has been a captain before and maybe has some wisdom from that…even though it was a loss.

Ha! User name checks out.

I ran into him (almost literally) at Circle C in probably like 2001. Has nothing to do with him as captain but he is a tiny man.

I'd be on board with the pick. Can't be worse than Furyk.

AustinCountyAg said:

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It's a shame Phil fell out of grace. He'd be a great pick imo


I wish they'd give Justin Leonard a shot, because frankly why the hell not.

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I'm with you on Leonard. He's our closest version of Donald. He would absolutely embrace the role and dedicate the next year of his life to it.

CapCityAg89 said:

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Ha! User name checks out.

I ran into him (almost literally) at Circle C in probably like 2001. Has nothing to do with him as captain but he is a tiny man.

I'd be on board with the pick. Can't be worse than Furyk.

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He might've went to school in Austin, but no ties to Austin County. Username doesn't check out!

I might be in the minority here but I kinda like bringing Fuyrk back.

Don't think Tiger is the answer to win on the road and I'm glad that didn't work out. None of his golf superpowers translated to good golf at road Ryder Cups. The Presidents Cup team he captained in Australia needed a crazy comeback to win, despite a huge talent edge.

Ultimately I want someone who wants the job. Not someone that the PGA of America has to convince to take the job. The Ryder Cup is like #50 on Tiger's list of life priorities (even before his recent mishaps). I'd be ok if he's never a Ryder Cup captain, though I'm sure he'll do a home one at some point.

I'm ok with a losing captain retread too.

The other time in recent memory that we went with a losing retread was 2016 at Hazeltine, when we brought back DL3. That was one of our more successful Cups of the last 30 years. Granted, the loss at Medinah was kind of fluky and DL3 did a nice job tailoring the team event to our advantage. It wasn't really his fault that we couldn't close the deal in singles. So comparing DL3 to Furyk does have some limitations, given how poorly the 2018 Cup went.

But I'm still ok with it. When I think about road Ryder Cups over the last 20 years, I just see a continual failure to learn lessons. I hope that a captain who experienced those lessons first hand and has hindsight perspective on to how to remediate will be a step in the right direction.

I see the biggest mistakes we continually make in Europe as follows:

1) We don't get there early enough to acclimate to the time zone, weather and style of golf. The Euros were in the NY area weeks before Bethpage. We need to be in Ireland at least a week before the event festivities start. Simply doing this would go a long way. Ireland is likely going to be cold in September. Much colder than Jupiter Florida. Need to get use the temps, the grass, the likely wet conditions.

2) Foursomes. This is a tougher nut to crack because the Euros are so good at tailoring pairings around a customized course setup. It's hard to tell exactly how Donald/Molinari are going to setup Adare Manor. But we can't go 1-7 or 2-6 in the eight foursomes matches and expect to have a chance. We need to figure out a way to split them.

With that in mind, in road Cups, I think we need to be more thoughtful about roster construction. There's certainly some subjectivity here but I think certain guys are "gamers" and thrive on the intensity of a fast-moving foursomes match on the road. And some guys are more low-key good players who thrive on laws of averages over a 25 event season. We need more of the former than the latter.

We don't need to take guys like English, Henley, Griffin, etc because "points system". We need the gamers. Again, I know this is subjective, but it would be huge if Spieth, Reed, JT and Max were all in good form next year. They've proven to be unafraid of the road environment and can thrive in team-play. I'm sure Xander and Cantlay learned alot from 2023. I think Gotterup and Ashkay might be of this mold. Maybe Spaun too.

Anyway, who the right guys are specifically is impossible to say today. I just think there's a certain make-up of player we want, a certain type of proven experience that we want, and certain types of guys that we don't want.

3) Set Scottie up for success. I think we might need to consider the possibility that he might be better off skipping foursomes on the road. A fresh Scottie on his own ball going 2-1 or 3-0 is better than a beaten-down Scottie with a lackluster partner and target on his back going 1-4. It's not a knock on Scottie. The greatest player of all time (Tiger) had the same issue. Road foursomes is totally outside the element of what makes them great.

I nominate Deluxe for Team USA Captain in 2029.

HeyAbbott said:

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I nominate Deluxe for Team USA Captain in 2029.

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You're too kind sir

I don't know why they haven't called Justin … he seems perfect.

I seem to recall that you have to have won the PGA as a requirement to be considered. If true, that's nuts and confirms our UN serious approach.

Fine with no tiger.

Tiger might roll the golf cart and take someone out.

I'm okay with a retread that hopefully has learned some lessons and is coming off leading a Presidents Cup blowout win. This team keeps having to relearn hard lessons with each captain, so I actually like this approach.

They have asked Leonard to be vice captain before and he's turned them down. Would be nice to see him join as one this time, but I completely get not asking him to be captain when he's turned down vice. There is no requirement to have won the PGA. Stricker and Zach Johnson didn't, it's about a 50/50 mix the past 20 years or so.

Leonard will likely be a VC this time. He was on the Prez Cup team under Furyk so I bet he brings him back. I guess Cink isn't gonna get a chance. Thought he'd get the call here.

Does Duval have no interest? What about Notah Begay?

At this point, basically anyone that's held a golf club over the past 20 years should be looked at. Make it a 4yr commitment even.

DannyDuberstein said:

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Tiger might roll the golf cart and take someone out.

I'm okay with a retread that hopefully has learned some lessons and is coming off leading a Presidents Cup blowout win. This team keeps having to relearn hard lessons with each captain, so I actually like this approach.

They have asked Leonard to be vice captain before and he's turned them down. Would be nice to see him join as one this time, but I completely get not asking him to be captain when he's turned down vice. There is no requirement to have won the PGA. Stricker and Zach Johnson didn't, it's about a 50/50 mix the past 20 years or so.

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Do you know which captains asked him to be a vice captain? He had his tv gig for a while and then he went hard for the senior tour. Maybe those played into it. But, if it was someone like Zac Johnson or even Keegan … that seems like oil and water.

I think it should be like any national team coach … a permanent position until such time as your services are not needed. I would start with Zinger.

2025: Keegan Bradley (at Bethpage Black, NY)
2023: Zach Johnson (Marco Simone, Italy Europe won)
2021: Steve Stricker (Whistling Straits, WI U.S. won)
2018: Jim Furyk (Le Golf National, France Europe won)
2016: Davis Love III (Hazeltine, MN U.S. won)
2014: Tom Watson (Gleneagles, Scotland Europe won)
2012: Davis Love III (Medinah, IL Europe won)
2010: Corey Pavin (Celtic Manor, Wales Europe won)
2008: Paul Azinger (Valhalla, KY U.S. won)
2006: Tom Lehman (The K Club, Ireland Europe won)

He didn't say who, but he did say he's passed on it multiple times. Had nothing to do with who it was per Leonard, he just had personal conflicts where the timing didn't work. I don't really get the oil and water, he and ZJ are quite similar. Keegan is Keegan. Leonard seems like the type that would blend in on any staff.

Why is Freddy never mentioned? Must be a reason. Seems like he's well connected and liked by a lot of players.

He says he's too old for it now. He's been vice a few times, but I don't think his laidback style and the PGA of America jibed. I think he pretty much rejected some of the dog and pony aspects required, which would probably be a good thing. His first vice captain role was for the 2012 crash and burn, and his style while they fell apart wasn't loved. They still should have given him a crack at some point but it seems that window has closed

Freddy imo has ran his mouth too much and dogged too many of the players over the years.

Justin seems quite calculated and cerebral. I remember a story about how as a junior he had ziplocks in his bag separating tees and balls and gloves … etc … meticulous. From drive to survive … Zac didn't strike me as a meticulous planner and organizer. Total extrapolation from edited tv but my read. Justin seems very much more like a Luke Donald … which certainly has been working well. The studs at bethpage let Keegan down. And putting let the studs down … the euros were making everything.

I'm personally over the Jordan… JT… Ricky crew. They've had a lot of chances and I was glad Keegan broke that up a bit. Was glad the bearded guy (name escapes) that won the players was picked… I don't think he was an AQ. That old guard would have to earn a spot on my team.

DannyDuberstein said:

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He says he's too old for it now. He's been vice a few times, but I don't think his laidback style and the PGA of America jibed. I think he pretty much rejected some of the dog and pony aspects required, which would probably be a good thing. His first vice captain role was for the 2012 crash and burn, and his style while they fell apart wasn't loved. They still should have given him a crack at some point but it seems that window has closed

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At this point, I think the US needs a captain that curtails the dog and pony show activities, or doesn't prioritize the pomp and circumstance.

Yes, I get the promotional/corporate aspect of it. But the actual performance or competitive edge has taken a back seat to that stuff imo. Jackie Burke even called that out years ago.

I don't disagree on needing to find a better way to dial it back for the players to focus on the golf. But yes, the underlying issue is that the Ryder Cup has become this crazy commercial enterprise now vs a competition, and with that comes massive promotion and commitments. Massive sales of merchandise - you walk into any golf store during a RC year and there is an assortment of gear to buy. Tickets priced at $750 for Bethpage, probably pushes $1000 at the next US RC. I think the PGA of America isn't going to let it slide even though I absolutely think they need to find a way to dial back player commitments. And I would say the Euro team is doing a lot of dog and pony too, but they seem to manage it better