U.S. President’s Captain Fred Couples got to select two players who didn’t make automatic qualifiers for the upcoming matches taking place in Australia in November.
Using what I will call a “premature selection” he burned one of those choices on his friend, Tiger Woods, a choice that Fred said he had to make because Tiger is the “greatest golfer forever.” Fred should have waited until now to select. While Tiger’s reputation and track-record prior to 2009 are spectacular and unmatched, his recent showings, except for a T-4 at the 2011 Masters, have been unimpressive, disappointing, and by his standards downright deplorable.
Hence, in my opinion, Fred should not have selected him based on the simple fact that Fred’s two captain choices are supposed to be used on players who are hot at the moment and capable of helping the team but didn’t automatically qualify.
Now, there is no question that TW is (or maybe better to say was) capable of helping the American team but his recent play hasn’t even raised his temperature to defrosting let alone hot. By contrast, there are five players whose recent games have been red-hot including in the current Barclay’s FedEx Cup playoffs. Two of them should have been chosen; now only one will be
Ignoring the automatic qualifiers on the US squad, five players who are in the TOP 20 President’s Cup standings (where Tiger is 38th) AND who are on-fire right now are: Brandt Snedeker, Bill Haas, Bo van Pelt, Rickie Fowler, and Zach Johnson-guys who just happen to be #11-15 respectively in the President’s Cup standings. All are playing very well in the Barclay’s FedEx Cup events and all are among the TOP 20 there after two events.
Were I Fred and had I not already wasted a selection on TW, my first captain’s choice would be Brandt Snedeker. He has been playing well all season and seems only to be getting better. After two stages of the FedEx Cup., he is in 5th place.
He drives the ball well with average distance about 280-290, decent accuracy hitting roughly 63% of fairways, and 65% of greens in regulation. He is a better-than-average (actually Top 5) putter, short and long, with +0.729 stokes gained putting, and he is a streaky birdie machine. For me, he is the unequivocal first (and now, only) choice.
If Fred still had a second option, for me, that choice would be harder to make. My heart says consider Bill Haas (hits it 296 with 3+/5 accuracy and nearly 7 out of 10 GIR, but a fairly average putter) or Rickie Fowler (extra long, less accurate (56%), but a clutch putter who ranks 12th at +0.592 versus the field), for very different reasons. My head says no to Bo van Pelt (298 with almost 68% GIR but not a great putter) and yes to Zach Johnson (decent distance at 277, accurate at 71%, GIR rate of just under 68%, and excellent putter ranking 9th with a +0.612 strokes better than average).
Forced to select, my second choice is Zach Johnson because of his driving accuracy and better putting edge, but Rickie Fowler is fine as well, especially if looking to add another “bomber” to the group and inject some younger blood. All else being roughly equal, I want guys who can putt, especially under pressure.
Oh, and what about Tiger’s stats: For 2011, his scoring average is 70.75, driving distance is 289 but with only 52% accuracy (187th), a GIR rate of 69% (36th), and a strokes gained by putting rate of +0.206 (66th).
Fred is the PC captain and he’s the one, the only one, with the final decision. He went with Tiger for one selection and to me that was both unfair and a mistake-at least right now. I’m sure Tiger will try his best during the matches to exonerate Fred for his selection, but trying isn’t doing! Tiger could very well prove me wrong and play exceptionally well; I hope he does…but I don’t think so. He hasn’t necessarily performed that well in prior PCs when his game was solid, so why now?
Fred’s final choice (on September 16th) should be Snedeker. If Fred goes elsewhere, two guys who deserved captain’s selection are going to be very upset, not just the guy whose spot Tiger got out of sympathy and for TV ratings.
There’s no question TW is one of the two or three best golfers ever. But, nicked up physically and mentally, coming off incomplete rehab, without much recent competitive golf, and swinging his sticks with only modest reliability, he doesn’t belong in this year’s Presidents Cup.
Two other guys do, but now only one is going to get there. That’s too bad because both should have gotten their chances based on doing it the old-fashioned way…they earned it!
©2011, FMK
Frank M. Krakowski, MD
Frank Golf Thoughts