Minutes after being labeled ‘Mr. Scotland’ by his new vice-captain Steve Stricker and USA Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson admits the rival European Team looks stronger both in terms of players among the leading nine automatic qualifiers and also in terms of the ‘wildcard’ picks available to Paul McGinley.
McGinley currently has four of the top-five ranked players in the world among his leading nine automatic Gleneagles qualifers headed, of course, by World No. 1 and triple Major winning Rory McIlroy.
As well, there’s Sergio Garcia 3rd, Henrik Stenson 4th and Justin Rose 5th.
Tom Watson names Steve Stricker as a third USA vice captain. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
In contrast, Watson has three and they’re ranked sixth to eight on the rankings – Matt Kuchar 6th, Bubba Watson 7th and Jim Furyk 8th.
Then when you look at the pool of players Watson has to choose from as his three ‘wildcard’ picks there’s Phil Mickelson (10th on the USA Team points table) and Keegan Bradley (11th) as very likely picks and the doubtful Tiger Woods (currrently 69th on the points table).
Those on the USA points table ranked No. 12 to No. 50, and apart from Webb Simpson (15th), J B Holmes (23rd), Hunter Mahan (32rd) and Steve Stricker (39th) have no Ryder Cup experience.
Even without having to delve into the Ryder Cup history books it’s clear McGinley has a better Ryder Cup talent pool than Watson with five players ranked from 1oth to 16th on the overall European Team points table having had prior Ryder Cup experience.
They include:- Luke Donald (10th position), Ian Poulter (12th), Miguel Angel Jimenez (13th), Francesco Molinari (14th) and Lee Westwood (16th).
“Well, the European Team is obviously very strong,” Watson agree.
“They have got some real good frontrunners right now, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy to name two.
“As far as the picks are concerned, you look at Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Joost Luiten, Stephen Gallacher, Miguel Ángel Jiménez; you’ve got five really solid possibilities for picks right there for his three picks.
“Their team has shaped up very strong, not a question. But we’ll be there and we’ll be ready, I promise you.”
