2018 Ryder Cup watch

Kuchar, Harman, Reavie have been consistently 'there' in many recent tournaments. Finau is rising. Phil can not afford to slip into mediocrity between now and September. Didn't like his announcement that he's taking 'two weeks off' and then will see why he's hitting it off lately, really? So he can get re-rusty again?

bulls9999 wrote:Kuchar, Harman, Reavie have been consistently 'there' in many recent tournaments.  Finau is rising. Phil can not afford to slip into mediocrity between now and September. Didn't like his announcement that he's taking 'two weeks off' and then will see why he's hitting it off lately, really? So he can get re-rusty again?

I think it's normal to take some time after a major to decompress. 1 or 2 weeks shouldn't be a big issue.

I think after his win, he put too much pressure on himself to try to force things to happen at The Masters. Overall, he's been playing really well this year and hopefully that will continue.

I think Phil playing poorly increased his chances of winning the US Open. Lets face it to win 2 majors is pretty rare. He realizes what the problem was ...how he handles it in the future will remain to be seen. At least he knows he can still play well and win. Last season we were wondering about that.

Stats are just stats. For instance PHIL is #7 now in Ryder Cup numbers but he is #3 in Fedex standings. He actually only trails one American (Justin Thomas) in Fedex points but Ryder cup points favor the performance in last year and this year's majors.

PHIL is fine and IMO already has a spot on the team.

No big change in points--waiting for Memorial-Memphis-US open to shake things up.
Aaron Wise is the intriguing new face of 2018 for a rookie pick? PHIL is still #8

Simpson and Kuch look likes Captain picks

I note as well that PHIL almost seems like a lock to stay in the top 50 till Nov 2018 and that would be 25 years!!!

Phil did move up 1 place in WGR and is now 18th in the world. I'm starting to think he is skipping Memorial...he still hasn't committed to it. He never seems to play good there and maybe he is worried about fatigue for the US open. Well we will know by Friday.

Looks like 3 in a row for Phil.. hopefully has the fatigue thing figured out.

Not sure how Phil falling out of Automatic-8 and his antics with the penalty at the US Open will go over with those that make Ryder Cup Captains' Picks.  They may just use it to say "it's time to move on and go with our younger players", and I don't think I'd be so upset if they did (Phil, this stuff...antics at the US Open..... is starting to get old....and so are you).

US Ryder Cup Standings

RANK THIS WEEK / RANK LAST WEEK /PLAYER NAME /EVENTS / POINTS

1 5 Brooks Koepka  16 8,840.409
2 3 Dustin Johnson  19 7,809.287
3 1 Patrick Reed  24 7,639.916
4 2 Justin Thomas  21 6,711.373
5 4 Jordan Spieth  24 4,795.306
6 6 Rickie Fowler  20 4,356.227
7 7 Bubba Watson  20 4,128.024
8 10 Webb Simpson  19 4,027.534
9 9 Bryson DeChambeau  18 4,007.116
10 8 Phil Mickelson  22 3,979.592
11 11 Matt Kuchar  25 3,386.946
12 12 Brian Harman  20 2,991.347
13 16 Tony Finau  19 2,870.764
14 18 Xander Schauffele  20 2,686.408
15 13 Aaron Wise  16 2,378.567
16 15 Jimmy Walker  23 2,277.486
17 14 Kevin Kisner  24 2,274.086
18 17 Kyle Stanley  18 2,147.763
19 19 Chez Reavie  19 2,114.324
20 20 Gary Woodland  22 2,111.874

The young Ryder Cup core (Koepka, DJ, Reed, Thomas, Speith and Fowler) have been huge in 2018. Those six players look great. Bubba and Webb look like they have their 2014 form back in place. PHIL will have to get another win or a top five in a major IMO to crack top 8.

Saying that--we can't have a Ryder Cup without him. Plus Kuch so that leaves two younger guys for picks unless Zach Johnson warms up.

After Phil's antics this week have left a bad taste in my mouth for this kind of stuff, tom-foolery, dumb move, lapse of judgement, or whatever you'd call it, I'd almost be fine with these (at this moment) as the Captain's Picks (which may change with new circumstances of good/better play, and decisions, on Phil's part). Now, I would still call for Phil to be selected over Tiger.  If Tiger is selected (to play) and not Phil, I will throw a tantrum.

9 9 Bryson DeChambeau  18 4,007.116
10 8 Phil Mickelson  22 3,979.592
11 11 Matt Kuchar  25 3,386.946
12 12 Brian Harman  20 2,991.347
13 16 Tony Finau  19 2,870.764
14 18 Xander Schauffele  20 2,686.408
15 13 Aaron Wise  16 2,378.567
16 15 Jimmy Walker  23 2,277.486
17 14 Kevin Kisner  24 2,274.086
18 17 Kyle Stanley  18 2,147.763
19 19 Chez Reavie  19 2,114.324
20 20 Gary Woodland  22 2,111.874

bulls9999 wrote:After Phil's antics this week have left a bad taste in my mouth for this kind of stuff, tom-foolery, dumb move, lapse of judgement, or whatever you'd call it, I'd almost be fine with these (at this moment) as the Captain's Picks (which may change with new circumstances of good/better play, and decisions, on Phil's part). Now, I would still call for Phil to be selected over Tiger.  If Tiger is selected (to play) and not Phil, I will throw a tantrum.

9 9 Bryson DeChambeau  18 4,007.116
10 8 Phil Mickelson  22 3,979.592
11 11 Matt Kuchar  25 3,386.946
12 12 Brian Harman  20 2,991.347
13 16 Tony Finau  19 2,870.764
14 18 Xander Schauffele  20 2,686.408
15 13 Aaron Wise  16 2,378.567
16 15 Jimmy Walker  23 2,277.486
17 14 Kevin Kisner  24 2,274.086
18 17 Kyle Stanley  18 2,147.763
19 19 Chez Reavie  19 2,114.324
20 20 Gary Woodland  22 2,111.874

Granted not Phils finest moment but that has nothing to do with his stats this year that are fantastic. I think he will make it on point, that was one of his goals. If he doesn't he WILL get a pick. The Team loves him young guys and the old captains and assistant captains. NO WAY will the US Open be used against him in this case.