It's not hard to imagine that Corey Pavin has long looked forward to captaining a U.S. Ryder Cup squad. The Oxnard, Calif., native who made a name for himself on tour with his gritty play and never-say-die attitude has played in three Ryder Cups, winning twice (1991, 1993), and got his first taste of captainship as an assistant for Tom Lehman's unsuccessful U.S. team in 2006. But now Pavin has the opportunity to put all of his experience and knowledge of the biennial international competition to the test. This time he will call the shots, and blame or praise will ultimately reside with him. The U.S. team will look younger and less experienced than in the past, but Pavin has surrounded those youngsters with solid veterans and good clubhouse guys. By building off those who qualified through the Ryder Cup point standings with his four captain's picks, Pavin has assembled a crew of 12 golfers that has a very good chance at retaining the Cup and winning on European soil for the first time since 1993. Here is a breakdown of Pavin's picks:
Phil Mickelson
Ryder Cup experience? Check. Likeable personality? Check. Performs under pressure? You bet. We've seen some brilliant golf out of Mickelson this year, highlighted by his gutsy long iron approach being threaded through two trees and onto the 13th green at Augusta on Sunday en route to his third Masters title. It's the kind of shot Phil thrives on, and it gives us a glimpse
It's not hard to imagine that Corey Pavin has long looked forward to captaining a U.S. Ryder Cup squad. The Oxnard, Calif., native who made a name for himself on tour with his gritty play and never-say-die attitude has played in three Ryder Cups, winning twice (1991, 1993), and got his first taste of captainship as an assistant for Tom Lehman's unsuccessful U.S. team in 2006. But now Pavin has the opportunity to put all of his experience and knowledge of the biennial international competition to the test. This time he will call the shots, and blame or praise will ultimately reside with him. The U.S. team will look younger and less experienced than in the past, but Pavin has surrounded those youngsters with solid veterans and good clubhouse guys. By building off those who qualified through the Ryder Cup point standings with his four captain's picks, Pavin has assembled a crew of 12 golfers that has a very good chance at retaining the Cup and winning on European soil for the first time since 1993. Here is a breakdown of Pavin's picks:
Phil Mickelson
Ryder Cup experience? Check. Likeable personality? Check. Performs under pressure? You bet. We've seen some brilliant golf out of Mickelson this year, highlighted by his gutsy long iron approach being threaded through two trees and onto the 13th green at Augusta on Sunday en route to his third Masters title. It's the kind of shot Phil thrives on, and it gives us a glimpse into the player he's become. The style of play Mickelson displayed at the Masters can ignite a team and a crowd, which is what makes him such a valuable part of Pavin's squad. Pavin said in the buildup to this year's competition that he wants competitors on his team, and Mickelson's imagination and gutsy decision-making -- coupled with the fact that he's a crowd favorite -- add that competitive edge to an American team that will need it while playing on enemy territory.
Phil doesn't have a desirable track record at the Ryder Cup (10-14-6), but what he does bring is leadership. The U.S. team has five Ryder Cup rookies, and you can be sure they will be listening to and absorbing as much as they can from Lefty, who has the most Ryder Cup experience on this year's team.
In the buildup to the Ryder Cup, Mickelson played some good golf but always seemed to have a blow-up round that keeps him from being atop the leaderboard. Recently, in the FedExCup playoffs, Mickelson had an opportunity to make a Sunday run at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston. He ended up having one of those meltdown rounds and carded a final-round 76 that took him out of contention. This doesn't necessarily translate into "he can't handle the pressure," but it does enforce the perception that Mickelson doesn't always bring his "A" game when it counts.
An interesting pairing from Pavin could be to put Mickelson with rookie teammate Dustin Johnson. In the foursomes part of competition, this duo could be a killer. When it comes to smashing the ball off the tee and sending a message, it doesn't get much better than these two. Johnson is third on tour in driving distance, averaging 307.5 yards, while Mickelson is tied for 12th, averaging 299.1 yards off the tee. By pairing these two in foursomes, Pavin could have two players who put the ball in play and hit it a mile off the tee on every hole. Johnson has the same kind of pin-seeking mentality that encompasses Phil's style, but still has some reservations about his game. This contrast could allow Phil to be Phil and get aggressive when needed. Another possible pairing for Mickelson could be with Hunter Mahan, as the two previously halved a match in foursomes.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan was one of the standout performers of the 2008 American redemption team. In his short time in Ryder Cup competition, Mahan has yet to lose a match (2-0-3). He proved he could compete and had the tough task of battling against European Paul Casey in singles, earning an important halve for his team.
Mahan has had a productive 2010, earning his spot on Pavin's team with wins earlier in the year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, where he took on a talented and deep field.
Mahan has a solid game, but among the things he does best is something that has become crucial in Ryder Cups past -- he hits greens. So far in 2010, Mahan is hitting just above 68 percent of all greens in regulation, which could translate to low scoring in the alternate shot format of foursomes play.
Here's one thing Pavin has to like about Mahan that doesn't have to do with statistics or past experience -- passion. When Mahan is in contention, you can tell what is going on through his head just by looking at him. His body language and facial expressions, coupled with an occasional fist pump, show that he wears his heart on his sleeve. In 2008, the fiery and energetic Mahan was the top U.S. points producer. Now that he's aged a little, let's see if he can one-up his breakthrough performance from last time.
Bubba Watson
Watson's inexperience in Ryder Cup competition certainly has him pegged as a wild card on this year's U.S. team. The big-hitting lefty with the soft touch has only one PGA Tour victory (2010 Travelers Championship), which puts him in the relatively unproven category with some of his teammates.
But even though Watson might not have Tour wins to his name yet, there's no doubting his talent. Watson earned his way onto this team. He has had four top-10 finishes to go with his win in 2010. That includes two runner-up trophies, most recently at the PGA Championship.
Unless you haven't been watching golf recently you're going to know Watson's claim to fame in a hurry. He absolutely smashes the ball off the tee. He ranks second on Tour in driving distance -- averaging 309.3 yards -- which makes him a threat in alternate shot format. But don't confuse him as the guy who can only hit the big drive. Not many on Tour can hit the high flop shot as soft and accurate as Bubba can, which shows how versatile he can be when he's on his game.
Watson's versatility gives Pavin options. The captain could decide to pair Bubba with a more experienced and conservative veteran like Stewart Cink or go for a lights-out pairing with someone like Johnson or Mickelson, who both have games similar to Bubba's.
Jim Furyk
Furyk is one of the better all-around players in the game. His name is a regular occurrence on leaderboards, and you can bet that his ball is routinely in play and in the fairway.
With two wins already this year, Furyk seems to be coming out of a funk that has plagued him since his last win in 2007, which is good news for the U.S. squad.
Because he is such a good ball striker and can make a putt from anywhere on a green, you would think Furyk would have a lot of success at the Ryder Cup. His 8-13-3 record says otherwise. He is among the best at singles, going 4-1-1 in his career, but where Furyk surprisingly struggles is when he is paired with someone else. His combined record in the fourball and foursomes format at the Ryder Cup is a horrid 4-12-2.
Pavin is going to have a tricky time when trying to pair Furyk with a teammate. On paper it seems easy, but the Ryder Cup is unlike anything in golf, and so far, Furyk has had a hard time finding the right partner.
Another thing you can count on is whom Furyk will be competing against. When looking at Ryder Cups past Furyk has always had the task of going up against the toughest Europe has to offer, in effect becoming the Americans' stopper. Furyk can shut down an opponent who is riding a hot streak and is capable of handling that kind of pressure. He has beaten the likes of Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia in competition -- all Ryder Cup legends.
Steve Stricker
Stricker has the type of game that seems to be built for the Ryder Cup. His record is not ideal (0-2-1), but then again he wasn't exactly playing at the level he is now back in 2009 when he was a captain's pick. Granted, Stricker was among the best in golf at the time of the last Ryder Cup, but now he appears to be in his best form yet. The fourth-ranked player in the world, Stricker has two wins and nine top-10 finishes in 2010 and is poised to make another run at a FedExCup Championship.
Aside from his fine individual play, what makes Stricker one of the most valuable members of the U.S. squad is his record playing with world No. 1 Tiger Woods. The two were paired together in 2009 at the Presidents Cup and went undefeated. Stricker responded to all the pressure and played perfect golf with Woods. Pavin knows how rare it is for a team to win every match in a pressure-packed tournament like the Presidents Cup or the Ryder Cup, so he should definitely keep Stricker and Woods together.
All that said, Stricker should have a great Ryder Cup. Watching him hit a wedge from within 100 yards to a tough pin placement is a thing of beauty. From there, Stricker lets the strongest part of his game - his putting - take over. The team that wins the Ryder Cup is often the one that putts the best. With Stricker setting the tone on the greens, he could inspire his teammates and be the difference in retaining the Cup.
Dustin Johnson
The 2010 campaign has been a rollercoaster for Johnson. How many times have we seen him in contention, sometimes even holding the 54-hole lead, only to blow it on Sunday? For Johnson, it has been one time too many. He had the lead entering Sunday at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and was about to make a statement for the 20-somethings on Tour by winning his first major. Instead, he shot a final-round 82. And it was easy to feel for him when he mistakenly grounded his club in a "bunker" on the 72nd hole of this year's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, ultimately denying him his first major title … again.
Johnson's 2010 has been characterized by close calls and historic meltdowns, but we tend to forget he earned a spot on the U.S. team by winning earlier in the year at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He then reinforced his top-level status by winning the BMW Championship in the FedExCup Playoffs in early September. This all shows Johnson has the talent to perform under the spotlight. The question is, can he handle it when he heads overseas to play for his country?
He has a confident swagger about him out on the course. He is never afraid to pull driver out and rip it down the middle, even if the smarter play is to lay up with a fairway wood. This gunslinger mentality Johnson has been trying to enhance could be effective in Ryder Cup format.
Sure he can bomb it more than 300 yards, but the red flag on Johnson's scouting report is that he struggles within 150 yards of the pin. He might have trouble in the singles format, given his inexperience, but if he could be paired with the right partner in team play, he will not have to worry about hitting shaky wedge shots. Look for Pavin to pair Johnson with a solid veteran like Mickelson who, like Johnson, isn't afraid to take some chances.
Jeff Overton
Overton is not a household name. With a team full of headliners, he will certainly be lost in the middle somewhere. His longer-hitting and more-accurate teammates overshadow even the strengths of his game – like driving distance and G.I.R.
Overton will definitely cause a few heads to be scratched when the telecast begins. He is the only American representative in Ryder Cup history to have zero wins before his first appearance in the event. Overton got hot at the right time, though. Who knows if he can keep up his streak of top-10 quality play, but if he can, he will be a major talking point. If he can't, then the unproven rookie meltdown scenario becomes a reality for the U.S. squad.
Matt Kuchar
Probably one of the most underrated golfers in the game, Kuchar has been quietly going about his business on Tour. Just like Stricker in 2008, Kuchar basically came out of nowhere and is now on the first page of leaderboards at almost every tournamen.
While some may not know his name, he has been racking up Ryder Cup points all year. He finished in the top 30 in all four majors this year, including an eighth-place finish at the PGA Championship. This shows he can play well under tough conditions and perform in the pressure cooker that is a major tournament.
Kuchar makes his living through his iron play. He is not an especially long hitter, but he hits his irons and wedges close to the pin. He ranks 14th on tour in greens in regulation.
Kuchar is about as hot as you can get heading into this year's Ryder Cup and seems to have gotten better as the year has gone on. He could be paired with almost anyone on the team and should be a solid contributor to this year's U.S squad.
Stewart Cink
This is one of Pavin's no-brainer captain's picks. Cink is someone you want on your Ryder Cup team. He brings a ton of experience (2010 will be his fifth Ryder Cup) and is a great clubhouse guy. His 4-7-4 lifetime record at the event isn't great, but Cink brings a lot of intangibles to this team.
The biggest thing Cink brings to the table is his leadership and experience. Cink has seen it all and can show the rookies the ropes.
The second best thing about Cink being on this team is he can be paired with almost anyone. He has had some success with Furyk and Zach Johnson, both of whom could be pairing possibilities for Pavin.
His game is solid and after his first major victory at The Open Championship in 2009, Cink's confidence is at an all-time high. His calm demeanor and likeable personality will only make his teammates better. Cink will be instrumental in this year's Ryder Cup.
Zach Johnson
The steady Johnson, with his fine all-around game, is another no-brainer for captain Pavin. He hits just about every fairway and can get red-hot on the greens with his putter. He doesn't hit it far at all, but he is a plugger. He grinds out every shot and makes up for his lack of length with his competitiveness.
Because he is so good at keeping the ball in play, Johnson does well on tough courses. He made a statement to the golfing world by winning at Augusta in 2007, proving that a steady game plan can be the best weapon out on a course. With the thick rough the players will face at Celtic Manor, Johnson's ability to grind out a round and go low will prove crucial.
Rickie Fowler
When it comes to the captain's picks, Fowler is Pavin's biggest gamble. The 21-year-old Ryder Cup rookie will have a lot of growing up to do by the time he steps onto the first tee at Celtic Manor. With no PGA Tour victories and relatively no pressure situations under his belt to rely on, Fowler will have to convince his critics that he belongs on this team.
Although he has no prior Ryder Cup experience, Fowler brings to the table an incredible record at the Walker Cup. In the match play format of the overseas event that pits American amateurs against amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland (sort of like a mini-Ryder Cup), Fowler has only lost one match in eight rounds. This shows he's no stranger to the format and has played for his country twice, but this is a much bigger stage and Fowler will have to keep his cool and learn from the veterans Pavin has surrounded him with if he is to have any success at Celtic Manor.
Tiger Woods
This has been a year Woods -- or the rest of the world -- will not soon forget. Aside from his off-course problems, Woods has had a very mediocre season. It was a year where he did not get fitted for another green jacket and he did not raise another claret jug. Instead, he has settled for some top-10 finishes and only recently showed signs of the old Tiger at the FedExCup Playoffs.
But the Ryder Cup can be his redemption.
Imagine what being a part of a victorious U.S. team could do for him and his image. By mentoring a young team full of rookies in a hostile environment, Woods can show he cares about some things more than he cares about his own golf. If he could achieve this and have a stellar Ryder Cup, then it could somewhat salvage a season where he has looked more human than ever.
Woods hasn't always performed to expectations at the Ryder Cup. He has a 9-13-2 career record at the event. But every year he is a part of the U.S. team, he always delivers with his competitiveness. No one in the game has the steely focus and drive Woods possesses. In match play, you have to learn how to forget about the past and focus on your game one shot at a time, something Woods has been doing his whole career. He is a great match play player, and in singles he is as tough as they come. On Sunday singles you can expect to see Tiger and Furyk teeing up against the hottest European players.
Woods has yet to play with his undefeated Presidents Cup partner Stricker in Ryder Cup competition, so you can bet the two are eager to see if they can carry their success to Wales. It should be a comforting thought for Tiger -- who has struggled with his putting lately -- to know that Stricker can be there to hole a few putts along the way when a match is on the line. Tiger's overall skill and Stricker's solid play should make for an explosive duo.
The Ryder Cup could be Tiger's saving grace. The whole world will be watching to see what kind of role he plays for his team. If he puts himself in his little bubble and is the same Tiger that shut out everyone earlier in the year, it could be disastrous. But something in the way he has carried himself lately suggests he is chomping at the bit to put all of the naysayers and critics back in their place. And of course, all eyes will be on Tiger.
