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Given the team spirit and fine play of the US team in the President's Cup this past week, I think it's time to think about what the makeup of the 2006 Ryder Cup team will be. Regardless of this team's cohesiveness and ability, it's a virtual guarantee that some members will not be on the team that travels to the K Club next September and will be replaced by new members. So the question is, which players from this year's President's Cup team will not be on the 2006 Ryder Cup team, and who will replace them?

Just in case you've forgotten, here were the members of this year's President's Cup team:

Tiger Woods
Phil Mickelson
Chris Dimarco
Davis Love III
David Toms
Kenny Perry
Jim Furyk
Fred Funk
Stewart Cink
Fred Couples
Justin Leonard
Scott Verplank

Here are the current Ryder Cup standings:

1 Tiger Woods 1812.50
2 Phil Mickelson 766.87
3 Chris DiMarco 462.50
4 Davis Love III 421.87
5 David Toms 348.91
6 Kenny Perry 258
7 Jim Furyk 256
8 Fred Couples 247.72
9 Fred Funk 233.33
10 Vaughn Taylor 230.83
11 Stewart Cink 225.22
12 Ben Crane 221.25
13 Tom Lehman 201.25
14 Pat Perez 197.50
15 Ryan Palmer 192.50
16 Justin Leonard 167.50
17 Zach Johnson 166.47
18 Joe Ogilvie 161.35
19 Mark Calcavecchia 160
20 Tim Herron 156.66

So, who's out and who's in? Will the old guard hang on for one more Cup run, or will some fresh faces fill out Captain Lehman's lineup card?

Pick the twelve with passports.

you might have to go down that list quite a ways for that

From a european point of view,Funk and Perry are not making us quake in our boots. As much as everyone loves Freddie Couples ,he has a reputation of folding under Ryder Cup matchplay pressure.

The top seven and Cink look like a strong core,but the rest have something to prove.Traditionally ,the Europeans raise their game and the AMericans do not. After Furyk, who has the heart? I'd get di MArco and a set of bypass machines.

I believe Sean O'Hair has a current passport. lol.

Sean's game could be pretty stout next year and either qualify him or be a captain's pick. He's pretty mentally tough.

also, Jason Gore might be an outside chance. we do need some young guns to pick it up and rise to the top.

Will Wie try to enter the Ryder Cup also?

stagday

Maybe she can choose the outfits,she can be inspired by Ben Crenshaw

You have to pick Ben Crane and play him 1st in the singles - the USA players are used to playing behind him but he'll drive guy's like Monty nuts! Luck would probably put him outs against Harrington and we'll have the 1st 6 hour 2 ball!

They way they played this weekend, you've got to think Leonard and Verplank would be excellent choices for the Ryder cup. I'd love to see a Zach Johnson step up and get in there.

Here's a name for you, he'll really have to make a run at it next year but how about Troy Matteson on the Nationwide tour? He's darn close to breaking the record for season money set by Zach Johnson.

1 Tiger Woods 1812.50
2 Phil Mickelson 766.87
3 Chris DiMarco 462.50
4 Davis Love III 421.87
5 David Toms 348.91
7 Jim Furyk 256
11 Stewart Cink 225.22
16 Justin Leonard 167.50
Scott Verplank
10 Vaughn Taylor 230.83


If that was the top ten ,then I think Tom would be a very happy man. Pick two young guns like O'Hair and CH3 and i think we would ahve a good match with USA favourites as usual.

We might end up short handed if we used that method!

Passports? We don't need no stinkin' passports! My apologies to John Belushi!

I think Kenny Perry and the 2 Freds may be dropping off, though Funk has apparently made it a special priority to make as many of these teams as possible, so he may hang in there. I could see Crane, Leonard, Perez, Ryan Palmer & Zach Johnson all moving into the mix.

Lehman is #13... what if he moves into the top 10? Has he said whether or not he would play?

Perry may still make it, but I agree about the two Freds...they're just getting too far up there to make a good run at it IMO. Verplank is a little up and down, so he's iffy too I think. I'm thinking Zach Johnson makes it, Leonard makes the top 10, and Charles Howell III has to be ready to make a move and make the team. Outside shots to O'Hair, Taylor and Crane.

Apparently both Fred Funk and Fred Couples want to make the team. Fred Couples stated when he was interview after the President's Cup that he was planning on playing more so he has a better change of making the team.

Unless they change the rules, I don't think there will be any substituting of those that earned their place with people they want to pick out. If the young guns are so good, they will have earned their place anyway.

Fred Couples is 7,9,4 with foursomes being his worse category. Tiger Woods is 7,11,2. Each has played 20 matches, so there is an equal comparison. Tiger's worse category is four ball.

So, I don't understand your remark about Fred Couples having a reputation of folding under Ryder Cup matchplay pressure.