Ryder Cup speculation can begin

Since the U.S. Open speculation has ramped up concerning Ryder Cup team rosters and of course the outcome of the matches at Celtic Manor in Wales beginning Oct. 1. However with the British Open on the books (has there ever been one with less excitement?) and Louis Oosthuizen having had his photo taken innumerable times kissing the trophy, the season of guessing, speculation and opinion can officially begin.

As an exercise to confirm what most fans already felt, the two teams are closely matched. The average World Golf Rankings position of the top nine Euro players on the Ryder Cup points list is twelfth and the top eight American in Ryder Cup points have an average world ranking of thirteenth. A difference with no distinction surely.

European captain Colin Montgomery has three picks to round out his 12 player squad and US leader Corey Paving has four selections.

A reasonable assumption is the Ryder Cup likely will hinge on who the captains choose to fill out the teams and the home field advantage for the Euros. Both those factors could be minimized of course if Woods and Mickelson come to play and dominate, not something that has ever happen before.

The next three players on the European Ryder Cup points and all potential picks are Francesco Molinari (23 in world rankings), Miguel Angel Jimenez (37) and Paul Casey (8). For Pavin his next four on the points list are Jeff Overton (56), Ricky Barnes (60), Hunter Mahan (29) and Ben Crane (42).

Pavin though has another worry in that Anthony Kim (4th in points and number 13 in the world) is still not back after hand surgery. He did not play in the British Open and was aiming to return at this week’s Canadian Open but decided he would not.

The armchair speculation will continue of course all the way until Aug. 15, the end of the PGA Championship, when the teams are named.