Add some experience and mental toughness to the squad by throwing in a top Champions Tour player or two. Give me a Jay Haas over several of the younger tour players on the "bubble".

Sequester the team for one full week prior to the match. You either agree to get together and practice, eat and commune with your teammates for a week or you don't play.

Just a couple that come to mind.

Add Rocco
 

Mediate hs definitely earned a spot after this weekend's effort.

Agree. Especially after going toe to toe with TW.

Tigers out - or not...
 

Could Tiger be vice captain?

Vice Squad
 

No . . . That spot has been reserved in perpetuity for John Daly.

:laughing9

I am more worried for Europe (my team) now that Tiger is NOT playing for USA.

His absence will free up the other members of the US team, they will relax and play better.

I really hope that Tiger does recover for his sake...and Euro team!!

The best Euro teams were made up of great players who respected each other...and lesser players who were inspired by the generous spirit of the best...Seve!

If US can get that mix of team together...whichever tour they choose from...then you can make most of the home advantage.

But beware...the more the Brit Pack (Casey, Donald, Poulter) do not win Majors...the more the Ryder Cup matters to them and they have eachother to prove that they can handle the pressure....beware the wounded egos!

Good luck to Tiger, but a 4th surgery marks the beginning of the end of his supremacy. Never believe any surgeon who says it will be "as good as new"...especially when 3 of his colleagues have already been into that knee before you....it will mark a slide...gradual...but a slide...

UNLESS - he learns to play left handed....and I do not put that beyond Tiger's will or skill!

Don't think he meant Captain of Vice!:laughing9

Well I like the Europeans winning every time, but then I am European. ;)

The best solution to me is to pick form. Dont go by world rankings perse rather go by recent form perhaps taking points only from the 6 months prior to the Ryder Cup ie Feb through August with the PGA Championship being the final "points" event.

Then you get consistent performers in your team, plus those who really want to play in the Ryder Cup will be evident by how many events they play in that 6 month period.

I still believe
 

The PGA should consider drawing 12 players out of a hat, excluding Woods and Mickelson from the pool. The U.S. might have a better chance of getting a team that is enthusiastic about playing and winning. Instead of posturing and whinning.

This opinion comes from first hand observation, at the K Club. Furyk and DiMarco carried thier playning partners around for two days. Tiger looked like he'ld would rather have been somewhere else. Phil looked like a man trying not to lose rather than a trying to win. His play was very indecisive.

Perhaps Azininger will have an advantage in addition to home field. He will not be faced with the decision to bench the best player in the world (galaxy), for lackluster play in foursomes and fourball matches. Other captians have failed to exercise or even consider this option.

Hopefully this years Ryder Cup will end the "Curse of the $". The U.S. Team has faired woefully since asking to be compensated for thier play in the Ryder Cup. I belive Mark O'Meara was very outspoken in his opinion that the players be compensated. The Euro's have sought no such monetary compensation. Representing thier respective countries, and recently thrashing highly overrated US teams, seems to be more than adequate reward for thier participation.

As a PGA of America member, I sincerely hope that the organization remembers Mr. O'Meara's leadership role in asking that players be compensated. If the PGA ever makes him a Capitain it would be a great mistake.

Almost as great an injustice as overlooking Larry Nelson as a Team Capitain. His quiet confidence and proven leadership as a player, and in service to his country, are qualities sorely missing from the US Team. See Yoda's post #20 in this thread for more details about a remarkable man. Well worth the read IMHO.

Fair Compensation
 

What if the American players were paid according to their performance and not just for showing up...I wonder if that would make a difference. I think its fair for some compensation...they are professionals making a living...without the players there is no event. Where does all the money go from TV coverage etc for the Ryder Cup? Some should go back to the players on both sides. Do baseball players get paid for their All-Star event or football player in the Pro Bowl event?...I think they do:)

Surely making the Ryder Cup team increases their off course endorsements. That should be recompense enough.

Anyone who wants paying for playing for their country (or continent) should just 'do one'.

Larry Nelson
 

Passing over Larry Nelson for U.S. Ryder Cup captain remains one of the most inexplicable omissions in the event's history. Thanks, Sligo33, for referencing my post #20 on page 2 of this thread. It was written 'from the heart' and is one of my personal favorites. http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/s...?t=3505&page=2

:salut:

So soccer teams members playing in the World Cup for their country should not be compensated...interesting concept. :)

Did Seve saved the Ryder Cup?
 

Back in the early 70's, there was much talk within the PGA of America as to whether the membership should continue to support the Ryder Cup. The US had dominated the Great Britain and Ireland (GB & I), for decades. Interest in the event had wained and was being heavily subsidised by the PGA, not the PGA Tour. The matches had the appeal of US Mid Ametuer. No offense to the USGA, but I challenge you to find ten people, at your course, who can name last years champion.

A desicion was made to add the the continental Europe to the GB & I side. This decision was likey made to get a dynamic young Spaniard into the Ryder Cup. It was not until Europe started winning the Ryder Cup that the event became the event that it is today.

The players are independent contractors and can play in the Ryder Cup or not. It is obviously to there benefit to play (i.e. endorsement ad other revenues). The players and thier families incur zero expense (travel, food, lodging, etc.) to play in this event and live quite well, on the PGA's nickel.

The money raised from the Ryder Cup goes to growing the game of golf. The PGA of America. You can go to pga.com to see some of the work this non-profit organization does.

If the players do not want to play for thier country or give back to the game that has given them so much, than there are more than enough out there that are willing to take thier place. If such players do not exist then I am afraid our game is headed for the same scandal ridden behaviour that has plagued the other aforementioned sports.

I agree Sligo, if the players do not wan't to give back to the game that has given them so much then they shouldn't play.

All of the players, both European and US, are multi-millionaires. To qualify for their respective teams they must simply because of the prize money they must have won.

As such they do not need the money and I wonder why they should ask for it.

Yes they have their images and their participation adds to the spectacle. It wouldn't be the same if we didn't have Mickelson, Garcia, Harrington and Woods playing. If the Ryder Cup was played between two teams of random players from each side of the pond, would we watch it as avidly.

So the players could say that they add to the event and so shouldbenefit from that, but as Sligo says, they gain that in sponsorships and endorsements etc.

All money that is generated through the Ryder Cup should go back into the game.

If the US Team started thinking that way, they might actually put in a better performance. They might actually start playing as a team because they'll think to themselves "I'm here because I want to be here."

I can't help but think of Chris Riley when I think of the poor attitude to the Ryder Cup on the part of some US Team Members. In 2004 Woods finally go some points on the board after playing with Riley on Saturday morning. When asked by Irwin to play in the afternoon he cried off saying he wanted to be with his family. He'd just spent the whole previous day with them and the event is only 3 days long. A poor attitude lead to a poor result.

IMHO they shouldn't be. The honour is standing there singing your national anthem with your hand on your heart and knowing your nation wants you to succeed.

I think it is one of the reasons the US team do so badly - they are not playing for their country!

HG, do you also think that athletes should get paid to represent their country at the Olympics?

No....I think that the Olympics should be strictly for amateurs...but that has all changed and will never return to its purest form. By allowing professional players to participate in the various sports has in my opinion changed the intent of the Olympics. The Americans have to use its professional players in some sports in order to compete with other countries who subsidize & groom their athletes from an early age.

I think we will start splitting hairs on whether the Ryder Cup players are paid or not to participate since neither side pays for their own expenses for travel, lodging and meals etc. We can only debate about the level of compensation on each side.

what does everyone think of the picks and who do you think will win?

Hunter Mahan can feel what its like to be a slave during Ryder Cup week. Wonder if he'll feel the same at the end?

On paper, Europe should win, but hell on paper the US should not have lost as many as they have!

I can't believe Faldo didn't pick Darren Clarke. Its tough on a guy who exactly fulfils the criteria for a wildcard pick but if only he'd been english eh?!!!!

Many are suprised Darren Clarke did not get picked. He is in good form going into these matches. I will miss his good play and good nature.

The Euro's do have two very good players, in Casey and Poulter. These are the new guys on the block and not picking Clarke or Montgomery is signaling a changing of the guard.

Our boys have 6 rookies and it should be interesting to see how they perform. Experience can be overrated these guys don't have the expereince of getting whipped.

I will cheer for all the players and even harder for the USA. Lets hope for an exciting close and spririted competition. Our game is the greatest bcause you can try to beat your opponent and then have a beer with them as a friend.

well said Sligo.

I will take issue with you on one thing though. Darren has just turned 41, from memory the US team has 2 players (Perry and Stricker) older than that, so I don't think Darren's playing days are over yet!

DC will be there at Celtic Manor in 2 years time and will show why he should have been picked over Ian Poulter, a man who if turned up on the first tee to play Ben Hogan and God would expect to win easily!