Ryder Cup wild cards. who would you pick?

Trampas

If the Ryder Cup team was finishing up today. Who would you two wild cards be?

Rumours are that it is going to be Casey and Poulter.

I don't think Casey should get one as he not bothered anymore to get into the team automatically by staying in the states.

I noticed Poulter is there also but playing in Scotland last week as I think he should be in Holland this week playing if he wants to make the team.

Kaymer is on the boarderline to make the team but not playing well so I wouldn't select him.

I would go for Poulter even though I am not pleased that he is in the states and Clarke cause he has won and might be striking some form.

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

Clarke definitely, don't think Casey or Poulter have the cahones for playing in the US when the fans are against you. If it was me, I'd stick McGinley in too. Can't see that happening though and it is probably pushing it a bit. So Casey and Clarke will be the picks imo of course if Rose loses out on a place he will step into a wildcard I would say.

Goodluck2me

Other (Please Name)

i went for clarke and McGinley as they have been there a few times and wouldn't be fazed by it.

steph1

Other (Please Name)

goodluck2me wrote: »

i went for clarke and McGinley as they have been there a few times and wouldn't be fazed by it.

Agreed. They are two very experienced players and playing in the US wont phaze them. Although McGinley is not playing at his best, he always performs well in Ryder Cup matches so I would definitely have him as a wild card.

steph1

Other (Please Name)

steph1 wrote: »

Agreed. They are two very experienced players and playing in the US wont phaze them. Although McGinley is not playing at his best, he always performs well in Ryder Cup matches so I would definitely have him as a wild card.

+1

ziggy

Darren Clarke

This post has been deleted.

OilBeefHooked2

Other (Please Name)

I also would pick Clarke and McGinley, purely because their Irish, although McGinley is a great matchplay player and should be picked on merit, but I expect Faldo to pick Monty and one of the english lads.

Morrisseeee

Other (Please Name)

Clarke & McGinley, they seem to peak at this time of year.
Also seem to do very well in Ryder Cup.

But I reckon he'll go for Clarke & Casey.

madds

Monty

Casey is a shoe in for the first wild card. He's one shot off the Barclay's lead in the States and will be in the last group this evening.

Going into this weekend, I had Poulter down as the second wild card. With Clarke's win today things have changed a little. I still think Poulter is in pole position for the last pick, by virtue of his strong showing in the British Open at Birkdale. However, if Clarke has another big week in Gleneagles next week, I think he should and will get Faldo's vote ahead of Poulter.

irishtoffee

Monty

Clarke and casey for me.

Sandwich

Monty

McGinley ????????????????

What are you guys on.

And I dont remember a golf game for the Atari Jaguar - Ryder Cup quality or not!

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

Sandwich wrote: »

McGinley ????????????????

What are you guys on.

And I dont remember a golf game for the Atari Jaguar - Ryder Cup quality or not!

eemmm, played in last 3 ryder cups, unbeaten in singles. averaging a half point for every match he plays. Comes into form every time it comes around and it suits his game.

Presumably you have a better argument against him that a load of question marks?

A.Partridge

Monty

I think I would go for Clarke and Casey.

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

I think todays result has really put Casey and Poulter in trouble. They both apparently believed they had a pick and didn't need to bother trying to get points. This attitude stinks imo and wouldn't say Faldo is impressed. Rose travelling to Europe to play Holland and now Scotland to protect his place shows the attitude of someone who really wants to play. Casey and Poulter going after the money and assuming they will get a pick anyway could really backfire on them. Clarke will be a pick imo.

Assuming that, why go for Casey? He is playing well, but has no partnership lined up.
Clarke and Westwood are a proven combination as are Harrington and McGinley.

The more I think about it the more I feel that if McGinley does well next week he should be in the side. It'll prove he is right on form and is the perfect partner for Harrington who is the key player for Europe.

rag2gar

Whatabout Luke Donald?

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

rag2gar wrote: »

Whatabout Luke Donald?

injured.

NewApproach

Nick Dougherty

rag2gar wrote: »

Whatabout Luke Donald?

Injured

pd101

Monty

Before I read this thread I was thinking Casey and Clarke, but now I'm swaying towards McGinley and Clarke. It does make more sense in terms of who they would partner. McGinley has the best stroke average on tour this year as well.

JerryHandbag

Monty

Nobodys voted for Monty!?
I picked Clarke and Casey, I think Nick needs to balance up the team with experience.....saying that why not pick McGinley? Playing well, good matchplay record....if only an Irishman was captain!

ziggy

Darren Clarke

This post has been deleted.

charlesanto

Monty

I think the best picks are Clarke n McGinley !
Harrio n McGinley gel brilliantly as do Westwood n Clarke.
These four are probably the best matchplay golfers in the world.

I voted Clarke n Poulter because i think it's the most probable !
I don't think Faldo could pick two paddies even if he truly felt they were the best picks.

I hope Casey isn't picked, he is an arrogant little ballix who doesn't know the meaning of the word team, like tiger i think he shouldn't play team events.

Bluefoam

Other (Please Name)

Wasn't McGinley supposed to be assistant captain but quit due to not getting on with Faldo. On Past form it should be Clarke, Monte or McG. He won't go for Clarke and Monte - my vote would be for Clarke and McG

Adiaga 2

Darren Clarke

I went for Casey and Poulter based on their world ranking and good recent form in top events(although Poulter had a mc at the weekend). Would love to have both Clarke and McGinley in the team but just can't see it. If Clarke has another great week in Scotland and Poulter does nothing special then I'd stick Clarke in. McGinley has had a very consistent season and even leads the stroke average stat on the tour but I don't see him making it. I do think he would play well but overall his numbers don't justify a pick imo. But in '89 Christy OConnor Jnr was seen as a risky pick by Tony Jacklin and he produced the shot of his life on the 18th to win his singles match.

The Rooster

Monty

Monty didnt play for the last 2 weeks. Is there a reason for that? Has he already been told he's getting the nod? I can't understand why he'd miss the Dutch Open for instance...

slumped

Atari Jaguar

My humble opinion is that Clarke will get a pick because of recent good form - assuming that is, that he does OK at Gleneagles and does not miss the cut.

Outside of that, McGinley will not get a call up. Why not? He pissed Faldo off by resigning his VC post and then ignored him for for the Seve Trophy on a GB&I team.

Poulter will probably get the nod ahead of Casey - simply because he has more flair and attitude.

I hope that McGinley wins at Gleneagles, but even that probably won't get him onto the team.

Me thinks that we would have taken two players out of 12 at the start of the year, and we might even get 3 if Clarke is picked.

If Clarke makes it, of the 2008, 2006, and 2004 Ryder Cup for Europe, Ireland has contributed 25% of players. No other country comes close.

S

Blunder

Monty

Thats a good point. He may also have been told that he's not getting the nod and decided there was no point trying. I went for Clarke and Poulter. Clarke has had a good season and had he had a better finish to 2007 he probably would have gotten into the team on merit.

Its Poulter for me ahead of any of the rest of them with the exception of maybe montegomerie. Montie has the experience however as Frank Nobilo said (I think it was him, Maybe it was Feraghty) on the golf channel a few weeks back that he'll not be there forever so maybe now is the right time to make the change.

Poulter has the experience of playing infront of the American crowds and I think showed at the British open that he can dig in and attack when he needs to. Might just be whats required at this Ryder Cup.

I dont think mcginley has done enough this season to justify a pick. He's had some good rounds and as has been said has the best stroke average on tour this year yet hasnt really gotten the results. I would imagine that his putting average is down the bottom of the list. He collapsed after 2 rounds of the BMW this year I dont this Faldo will want to take a risk on a player that might play well because its the ryder cup. It'd be great to have 4 from this Island on the team but I dont think It will happen. I think He needs a good week next week (Top 5 again) to make Faldo Consider him for the team.

Faldo my Completely surprise us and pick someone like Dougherty or Casey out of nowhere either.

madds

Monty

Bluefoam wrote: »

Wasn't McGinley supposed to be assistant captain but quit due to not getting on with Faldo. On Past form it should be Clarke, Monte or McG. He won't go for Clarke and Monte - my vote would be for Clarke and McG

Monty is an emotional soul (bless him ) and can't play his way out of a bad patch. He feels he needs a complete break away from the game in order to find some inspiration. He's been on holiday for the last 10 days but hopes to return refreshed for Gleneagles this week. Cameramen beware....

madds

Monty

.

lisbon_lions

Monty

Based on the weekend just past, Paul Casey and Darren Clarke did their chances no harm. Casey for the strong finish at the Barclays, Faldo jokingly said on the 18th "If he putts this, he's in and Casey delivered. And with Clarke winning the Dutch open, these would be my two at the moment.

Marshy

Monty

lisbon_lions wrote: »

Based on the weekend just past, Paul Casey and Darren Clarke did their chances no harm. Casey for the strong finish at the Barclays, Faldo jokingly said on the 18th "If he putts this, he's in and Casey delivered. And with Clarke winning the Dutch open, these would be my two at the moment.

Yeah I'd agree, it should be Clarke and Casey and I think Faldo will pick these 2, certainly Darren.

McGinley seemed to be playing well at the KLM but in truth he hasn't played consistently well since 2005 when he came 3rd in the OM with a great win at Valderrama. On that basis I don't believe he deserves a place at all.

Trampas

Monty

Poulter staying in US instead of going to Gleneagles now.

very poor if him and casey get the 2 spots now

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

Marshy wrote: »

Yeah I'd agree, it should be Clarke and Casey and I think Faldo will pick these 2, certainly Darren.

McGinley seemed to be playing well at the KLM but in truth he hasn't played consistently well since 2005 when he came 3rd in the OM with a great win at Valderrama. On that basis I don't believe he deserves a place at all.

He is consistentcy is the best this year on the european tour (70.9 stroke average). His problem has been that he hasn't turned any of his 6 top tens into wins.

JerryHandbag

Monty

Trampas wrote: »

Poulter staying in US instead of going to Gleneagles now.

very poor if him and casey get the 2 spots now

I wonder is Poulter so arrogant to think hes got a wild card spot in the bag....apart from the Open has he done anything of note this year? If he gets a wild card ahead of Clarke then...well I wont know what to think tbh

RedorDead

Monty

Taken from BBC. His decision is purely based on money and greed, now dont get me wrong - i know all these guys have a living to make, but he could have easily have played in Scotland this week. Arrogant twat. Hope Faldo leaves him high and dry.

Ian Poulter will have to rely on a captain's pick to make Europe's Ryder Cup team after pulling out of this week's Johnnie Walker Championship.

It is the final event counting towards selection and Poulter is outside the automatic selection spots.

"I have called (captain) Nick Faldo and told him of my decision and hope that my performance so far will earn one of his two wildcard picks," said Poulter.

He will instead play in America in a bid to reach the final play-off events.

Poulter will head to Boston hoping to finish high enough at the Deutsche Bank Championship to secure entry to the final two FedEx Cup play-off events, the BMW Championship and The Tour Championship. We know that Nick will do the right thing and I will be playing as hard as I can this week


"It has been an extremely difficult decision to take given my burning desire to represent Europe again in defending the Ryder Cup in the United States," he said.

"But the fact that Boston this week is my only opportunity to qualify for the final two play-off events, as well as being my final opportunity to play my 15 events on the US PGA Tour, conflicts with my ambition to play Gleneagles and earn my spot in the Team.

"The captain's picks are a nightmare, and not a position I would have wanted, where I need one, but we do know that Nick will do the right thing and I will be playing as hard as I can this week to add to my year and hopefully earn one."

Poulter is up against the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Paul Casey in the contest to be one of Faldo's two wildcard picks.

Europe's Ryder Cup team is composed of 10 automatic selections plus two captain's picks.

The automatic selections are the top five players from a list based on the world rankings, plus the next five best players to feature on a European Tour-based points list.

Poulter is currently in eighth place on the Ryder Cup world points list.

The 37th Ryder Cup will be hosted by the United States at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville from 19 to 21 September.

The Rooster

Monty

RedorDead wrote: »

Taken from BBC. His decision is purely based on money and greed, now dont get me wrong - i know all these guys have a living to make, but he could have easily have played in Scotland this week. Arrogant twat. Hope Faldo leaves him high and dry.

But the same goes for Paul Casey. And he's well behind Poulter in both the European points list and the World points list.

WHIP IT!

Other (Please Name)

Clarke and McGinley should both be shoo-ins, but I can see Faldo going for Clarke and Casey... I don't think Casey will handle the American atmosphere too well, although I think he is a very powerful player when playing well.

But if you want to pick two "bankers", then it's got to be the Irish pair.

Poulter, to me, should be a long shot - he's simply not as good a golfer as the other three mentioned - period.

ziggy

Darren Clarke

This post has been deleted.

Marshy

Monty

copacetic wrote: »

He is consistentcy is the best this year on the european tour (70.9 stroke average). His problem has been that he hasn't turned any of his 6 top tens into wins.

That seems to be evidence for the phrase "lies, damned lies and statistics" if you ask me. Having a decent stroke average is all well and good (its probably improved by the fact he hasn't played in many/any of the majors or WGCs) but there are many other players above him in the list who have either won tournaments of late or performed well in important events.

I'm sure Paul will be the first to admit there are quite a few people more deserving of a place in the team than he. Take Ross Fisher or Martin Kaymer for example. A fine Ryder Cup record will only get you so far, as Monty will probably find out.

stockdam

Ross Fisher

It shows the depth of the European team when we're trying to pick two amongst the list above.

If all of them were in the team then I would still feel it was a strong team. Poulter, Casey, Clarke, McGinley, Kaymer, Fisher, Dougherty, Monty.........all very good players and on their day could easily make a big impact.

I'd really struggle to pick between them. I can't see how Clarke could be left out although he has had his problems. I think Poulter and Casey will be next and I think Poulter will get the nod. On past record McGinley is a strong candidate. How can you leave out Monty as you know he'll give his all.

Ok I'm going to change my mind.......

Clarke and Monty.

brick tamland

Monty

Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter for me. but to be honest I'm not sue which 2 Faldo will go with. Hecan be a bit strange at the best of time

McGinley has no hope IMO, after the public slagging off he gave Faldo after he didnt pick an Irish player for the Seve Trophy last year plus to be honest i dont think his form warrants it.

i'm sure it'll be 2 from Clarke/Poulter/Casey (unless Rose drops out of the top 10 that is) which 2 I'm not sure

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

Marshy wrote: »

That seems to be evidence for the phrase "lies, damned lies and statistics" if you ask me. Having a decent stroke average is all well and good (its probably improved by the fact he hasn't played in many/any of the majors or WGCs) but there are many other players above him in the list who have either won tournaments of late or performed well in important events.

I'm sure Paul will be the first to admit there are quite a few people more deserving of a place in the team than he. Take Ross Fisher or Martin Kaymer for example. A fine Ryder Cup record will only get you so far, as Monty will probably find out.

It's not 'decent', it's the best on the whole european tour. You can argue that he doesn't derve a place, that's your opinion. However your argument that he hasn't played consitently well since 05 is rubbish. He has played consistently well all years. The only way to prove consistency is by stats, you can't have it both ways.

As for Monty, he is in absolutely terrible form. He isn't even in the running

ziggy

Darren Clarke

This post has been deleted.

fullstop

I think it's hilarious that so many people on here think McGinley should be picked. Copacetic in particular seems to have a hard-on for him. The truth is thet he has done practically nothing all year except last weekend. There are several players more deserving of a call up. I think Casey and Clarke will get the nod.

And as for people complaining about Casey and Poulter playing in America....would you turn down the chance to play for the amount of money available for the Fed-Ex cup? Oh look at Harrington playing in America for the next couple of weeks, he's so greedy :rolleyes:

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

ziggy wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

He isn't imo, he is in terrible form as I said. (Monty is in 20th place BTW!! €800 ahead of Paul, who will overtake him this week anyway)

McGinley is in great form, Faldo is on record that he will
pick form players for the wildcards. Besides, he hates Monty.

fullstop

copacetic wrote: »

He isn't imo, he is in terrible form as I said. (Monty is in 20th place BTW!! €800 ahead of Paul, who will overtake him this week anyway)

McGinley is in great form, Faldo is on record that he will
pick form players for the wildcards. Besides, he hates Monty.

He's still ahead of him. Monty for the ryder cup. He's ahead of the person with the best stroke average on tour in the rankings...

Adiaga 2

Darren Clarke

I wouldn't be too surprised to see Faldo pick Nick Dougherty either(Blunder mentioned thisearlier in the thread). They are his picks at the end of the day and I doubt he would be swayed by media or public opinion. Much as I'd like to see McGinley in, I can't see Faldo picking him. It'll be interesting come sunday night to see what happens.

fullstop

copacetic wrote: »

eemmm, played in last 3 ryder cups, unbeaten in singles. averaging a half point for every match he plays. Comes into form every time it comes around and it suits his game.

Presumably you have a better argument against him that a load of question marks?

McGinley has won 33% of his singles matches in the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie has won 75% of his...

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

I wouldn't be too surprised to see Faldo pick Nick Dougherty either(Blunder mentioned thisearlier in the thread). They are his picks at the end of the day and I doubt he would be swayed by media or public opinion. Much as I'd like to see McGinley in, I can't see Faldo picking him. It'll be interesting come sunday night to see what happens.

agreed, I don't see a chance in hell of McGinley being picked. However the thread is about who you would pick yourself. The various 'what are you on' and 'other peoples opinions are hilarious' posts aren't really what I'd like to see from regular posters. Informed debate with reasoning is what we should aim for if possible.

copacetic

Other (Please Name)

fullstop wrote: »

McGinley has won 33% of his singles matches in the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie has won 75% of his...

errm again, have a look at those games, his stats would be a least twice as good if he wanted them to be. His concession of the half to JJ Henry after the streaker was great sportsmanship not a half point lost. While the half to win the cup in 2002 was hardly a half point dropped either.

ziggy

Darren Clarke

This post has been deleted.

fullstop

copacetic wrote: »

errm again, have a look at those games, his stats would be a least twice as good if he wanted them to be. His concession of the half to JJ Henry after the streaker was great sportsmanship not a half point lost.

Strange things happen, Henry could still have got a halved match