The Presidents Cup Entitlement Program

ByeByeBirdie Professional Champion
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During a Friday interview, Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples all but assured Tiger Woods' presence on the team: "I have talked to Tiger from the beginning of the year," Couples told the Golf Channel in Minneapolis, where he is playing in the 3M Championship on the Champions Tour. "We text quite a bit. We texted last night. He wants to play. He is ready to play, and I think he will be on our team. "If he wants to come talk to me and say maybe I am not as healthy as I thought I was, so be it, but as far as I'm concerned, if he is not in the top 10 ... he will be on our team, no doubt." There are five more PGA events before the team is selected. Here are the current standings (through the WGC- Bridgestone): 1 Steve Stricker 2 Matt Kuchar 3 Phil Mickelson 4 Nick Watney 5 Dustin Johnson 6 Bubba Watson 7 Hunter Mahan 8 Bill Haas 9 David Toms 10 Jim Furyk 11 Rickie Fowler 12 Bo Van Pelt 13 Brandt Snedeker 14 Zach Johnson 15 Webb Simpson 16 Ryan Moore 17 Mark Wilson 18 Jonathan Byrd 19 Ryan Palmer 20 Jeff Overton 21 Steve Marino 22 Sean O'Hair 23 Gary Woodland 24 Tiger Woods 25 Charles Howell III The top 10 players automatically qualify for the team. The captain will pick the remaining two players. As far as I'm concerned, if Tiger Woods can make some progress in the upcoming weeks- and get some top 10 finishes, or even top 20- then it's reasonable to include him on the team. But if he's going to continue to scuffle along and be the the epitome of inconsistency (His FIR was 39% at the WGC- Bridgestone- missing some fairways by more than 60 yards.), then other players should be selected instead. I also think a possible soap opera side show of Tiger vs. Adam Scott/ Steve Williams will not be beneficial to the United States team.
MikeNomgi Professional Champion
# 1 8/8/2011 4:03:48 AM
Couples is obviously delerious from all the painkillers her's taking for his bad back. To send a signal that Woods will be on the team unless The Great One himself himself chooses otherwise, sends a very bad message to all those who are trying hard to make the team. Yeah, he's entitled to his captain's picks, but that doesn't mean he should abuse his priviledge.
cogolfer1 LowIndex
# 2 8/8/2011 6:48:38 AM
The BMW is the last event to qualify. That said Tiger will probably have 2, maybe 3 or 4 events to get further up the standings. We know he's at the PGA, looks like he'll be at The Barclays, Deutsche Bank and BMW are looking unlikely though unless something changes. If he got in the Top 20 then I'd look at picking him, and probably would. Outside Top 20 though is eh. Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson.
ByeByeBirdie Professional Champion
# 3 8/8/2011 5:13:42 PM
Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson. COG- this is why I've been trying to emphasize the two Tiger Woods: pre-crash and post-crash. A few examples: Torrey Pines: pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t10 post-crash: t44 WGC- Bridgestone: pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t4 post-crash: t78 and t37 Most importantly- WGC- Accenture Match Play: pre-crash: 3 wins and 2 other top 5 finishes post-crash: 1st round elimination Tiger "owned" a bunch of events pre-crash. The only venue that Tiger has performed equally well at post-crash is at the Masters. There has been significant drop off in most other venues since the crash, including the Accenture Match Play Championship. Seeing that the Presidents Cup is not taking place at Augusta, I believe the odds favor Tiger not doing well at the Presidents Cup, unless things start to "click" for him in the upcoming weeks.
cogolfer1 LowIndex
# 4 8/8/2011 5:16:00 PM
Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson. COG- this is why I've been trying to emphasize the two Tiger Woods: pre-crash and post-crash. A few examples: Torrey Pines: pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t10 post-crash: t44 WGC- Bridgestone: pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t4 post-crash: t78 and t37 Most importantly- WGC- Accenture Match Play: pre-crash: 3 wins and 2 other top 5 finishes post-crash: 1st round elimination Tiger "owned" a bunch of events pre-crash. The only venue that Tiger has performed equally well at post-crash is at the Masters. There has been significant drop off in most other venues since the crash, including the Accenture Match Play Championship. Seeing that the Presidents Cup is not taking place at Augusta, I believe the odds favor Tiger not doing well at the Presidents Cup, unless things start to "click" for him in the upcoming weeks. He did go 3-1 last year in Wales though. He crushed my Italian hopeful Francesco in singles, and with Stricker (can't go wrong with that duo, they're 7-1 since Harding Park) helping him out the first 2 days it made for a good week.
MikeNomgi Professional Champion
# 5 8/8/2011 8:30:22 PM
Arnie and Jack still have a pulse. Maybe Couples should pick them if he's looking for nostalgia. And Norman could pick Player, and we could reunite The Big Three. If Couples wants to get silly, let's get REALLY silly!

ByeByeBirdie

Professional Champion

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During a Friday interview, Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples all but assured Tiger Woods' presence on the team:

"I have talked to Tiger from the beginning of the year," Couples told the Golf Channel in Minneapolis, where he is playing in the 3M Championship on the Champions Tour. "We text quite a bit. We texted last night. He wants to play. He is ready to play, and I think he will be on our team.

"If he wants to come talk to me and say maybe I am not as healthy as I thought I was, so be it, but as far as I'm concerned, if he is not in the top 10 ... he will be on our team, no doubt."

There are five more PGA events before the team is selected. Here are the current standings (through the WGC- Bridgestone):

1 Steve Stricker
2 Matt Kuchar
3 Phil Mickelson
4 Nick Watney
5 Dustin Johnson
6 Bubba Watson
7 Hunter Mahan
8 Bill Haas
9 David Toms
10 Jim Furyk
11 Rickie Fowler
12 Bo Van Pelt
13 Brandt Snedeker
14 Zach Johnson
15 Webb Simpson
16 Ryan Moore
17 Mark Wilson
18 Jonathan Byrd
19 Ryan Palmer
20 Jeff Overton
21 Steve Marino
22 Sean O'Hair
23 Gary Woodland
24 Tiger Woods
25 Charles Howell III

The top 10 players automatically qualify for the team. The captain will pick the remaining two players.

As far as I'm concerned, if Tiger Woods can make some progress in the upcoming weeks- and get some top 10 finishes, or even top 20- then it's reasonable to include him on the team. But if he's going to continue to scuffle along and be the the epitome of inconsistency (His FIR was 39% at the WGC- Bridgestone- missing some fairways by more than 60 yards.), then other players should be selected instead. I also think a possible soap opera side show of Tiger vs. Adam Scott/ Steve Williams will not be beneficial to the United States team.

MikeNomgi

Professional Champion

# 1 8/8/2011 4:03:48 AM

Couples is obviously delerious from all the painkillers her's taking for his bad back. To send a signal that Woods will be on the team unless The Great One himself himself chooses otherwise, sends a very bad message to all those who are trying hard to make the team. Yeah, he's entitled to his captain's picks, but that doesn't mean he should abuse his priviledge.

cogolfer1

LowIndex

# 2 8/8/2011 6:48:38 AM

The BMW is the last event to qualify. That said Tiger will probably have 2, maybe 3 or 4 events to get further up the standings. We know he's at the PGA, looks like he'll be at The Barclays, Deutsche Bank and BMW are looking unlikely though unless something changes. If he got in the Top 20 then I'd look at picking him, and probably would. Outside Top 20 though is eh. Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson.

ByeByeBirdie

Professional Champion

# 3 8/8/2011 5:13:42 PM

Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson.

COG- this is why I've been trying to emphasize the two Tiger Woods: pre-crash and post-crash.

A few examples:
Torrey Pines:
pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t10
post-crash: t44

WGC- Bridgestone:
pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t4
post-crash: t78 and t37

Most importantly- WGC- Accenture Match Play:
pre-crash: 3 wins and 2 other top 5 finishes
post-crash: 1st round elimination

Tiger "owned" a bunch of events pre-crash. The only venue that Tiger has performed equally well at post-crash is at the Masters. There has been significant drop off in most other venues since the crash, including the Accenture Match Play Championship. Seeing that the Presidents Cup is not taking place at Augusta, I believe the odds favor Tiger not doing well at the Presidents Cup, unless things start to "click" for him in the upcoming weeks.

cogolfer1

LowIndex

# 4 8/8/2011 5:16:00 PM

Just important to remember that while his Ryder Cup record is pretty average, he fricking owns the President' Cup man. He almost never loses in this thing. That's really the big difference in why I'd want him now compared to last year when I screamed for him not to be in the Ryder Cup. Assuming they both stay out of the Top 10 until BMW, I'd pick Tiger and Rickie right now. If Fowler overtakes Furyk which looks likely, I'd pick Z. Johnson.

COG- this is why I've been trying to emphasize the two Tiger Woods: pre-crash and post-crash.

A few examples:
Torrey Pines:
pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t10
post-crash: t44

WGC- Bridgestone:
pre-crash: 7 wins; worst finish: t4
post-crash: t78 and t37

Most importantly- WGC- Accenture Match Play:
pre-crash: 3 wins and 2 other top 5 finishes
post-crash: 1st round elimination

Tiger "owned" a bunch of events pre-crash. The only venue that Tiger has performed equally well at post-crash is at the Masters. There has been significant drop off in most other venues since the crash, including the Accenture Match Play Championship. Seeing that the Presidents Cup is not taking place at Augusta, I believe the odds favor Tiger not doing well at the Presidents Cup, unless things start to "click" for him in the upcoming weeks.

He did go 3-1 last year in Wales though. He crushed my Italian hopeful Francesco in singles, and with Stricker (can't go wrong with that duo, they're 7-1 since Harding Park) helping him out the first 2 days it made for a good week.

MikeNomgi

Professional Champion

# 5 8/8/2011 8:30:22 PM

Arnie and Jack still have a pulse. Maybe Couples should pick them if he's looking for nostalgia. And Norman could pick Player, and we could reunite The Big Three.

If Couples wants to get silly, let's get REALLY silly!

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