Sorry, Paulie. This won't provide much clarity.
As Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger has doubtlessly received mountains of unsolicited advice with regard to which four Americans would represent the best picks for the at-large spots on the U.S. team, and this informal poll isn't going to narrow the shopping list any.
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| Steve Stricker should be relieved. He compiles the most points from writers. (Getty Images) |
In a development that underscores the perceived lack of depth in the American game and shift of power to the European continent, none of the potential U.S. players was named on every ballot -- marking the second straight time it's happened in the AP polling.
The Writer Cup picks, if you will, are as scattershot as a handful of hacks shooting the breeze at the 19th hole, and seem to be mostly reflective of the PGA Tour results from last week's FedEx Cup series opener in New Jersey.
Of the top five vote-getters on the writers' list (see below), four made the cut last week and two of them -- Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan -- led the tournament at some point. Both faltered badly on the weekend and never contended for The Barclays title on Sunday, however. In fact, after an opening 62, Mahan never shot par over the three final rounds. Young guns J.B. Holmes and Brandt Snedeker also made the Barclays cut, while Rocco Mediate missed playing on the weekend.
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In all, of the 10 players occupying the spots on the Ryder Cup seasonal points list who had not cemented spots on the team already, six missed the cut last week, blowing huge holes in the notion that the three extra weeks that were accorded Azinger before making his four captain's picks would help identify the hottest players.
Consider this, too: The top six players in the polling results would be Ryder rookies if picked, although after watching back-to-back defeats to the Europeans by record-matching margins, new blood seems like a fine idea.
Yet, based on their largely lackluster play of late, 'Zinger's ringers, they are not.
Forget finding guys who are hot -- how about room temp?
The Writer Cup?
A smattering of national golf beat writers were polled and asked to identify which four American players they would pick for the available at-large berths if they were U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger. A total of 23 golf writers responded and one point was awarded for each name on a ballot. (Source: Associated Press.)
Steve Stricker 17
Rocco Mediate 15
Hunter Mahan 12
J.B. Holmes 11
Brandt Snedeker 7
Sean O'Hair 5
Scott Verplank 4*
Woody Austin 4
Zach Johnson 4*
D.J. Trahan 3
David Toms 2*
Steve Flesch 2
Kevin Streelman 1
Paul Goydos 1
Mark Calcavecchia 1*
Pat Perez 1
Bart Bryant 1
Bubba Watson 1
*Has Ryder Cup experience.
