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***BPC*** · #1 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 11:22 AM

Listening to Lehman's presser now.

He considered 6 including the 2 he picked.

Steve Stricker - sounded like his first runner up based on his 2 top tens in majors this year.

Lucas Glover - hasn't played well since May, but he said this was a very tough call, thinks he has a great future.

Corey Pavin - when he had a chance to win he got it done.

DL III - he flatly stated "he isn't playing well".

Sounded like he never gave much consideration to John Rollins, and he let a few guys (Mayfair, Wilson) know yesterday they weren't under consideration.

xnavyct · #2 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 01:17 PM

Interesting. I guess all those cards from readers of Golf Magazine to make Daly a pick didn't sway him

Did see this:

Lehman relied heavily on a separate, unofficial list that awarded points to U.S. players in PGA Tour events, concerned that so many international players on tour made it difficult for Americans to finish in the top 10.

Cink was sixth on those standings, while Verplank was ninth.

Wildbore · #3 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 02:45 PM

Good picks Lehman. Hopefully Davis and Freddy can make the Presidents Cup team next year.

Body_Visions · #4 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 03:21 PM

Those picks seem kind of risky to me. If he doesn't win, he will probably get blasted for not picking a veteran like Love or Couples.

But if he picked them and didn't win, it would be the same thing.

Body_Visions · #5 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leaguegolf

Love's play in the PGA Championship showed Lehman he wasn't up to the task and Couple's bad back makes him a risk to play 3 days in a row. I'm not a Cink fan but he can putt and that's an area the Americans will need to improve in to have any chance of winning. I'd take Verplank on any team representing the USA.

You would have picked Verplank over Cink?

Lefty · #6 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 04:20 PM

Cink makes sense, he seems to have the stomach for it. Verplank has the same reputation.

Lehman seems to have picked players who reflect his personality, fighters who will not complain of being too tired to play in the afternoon.

Difficult to criticise Lehman from the choices available, DL3 and Freddie clearly did not want to be picked because of their lack of form and their intergrity. I have high opinins of both of them and they hold a lot of respect this side of the pond.

No one stands out as a significant omission, so it looks like the strongest team available.

***BPC*** · #7 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 04:45 PM

There really weren't any strong clear cut picks. Nothing risky in the two he chose, probably a smart route for him. He was very candid about Couples and DL III - they simply didn't do anything in the last 4 months that warranted their selection.

You can't hide four rookies until Sunday (well you can, but that might not work out so well). I figure what the heck, we got trounced pretty bad in Bloomfield Hills, let's see what Johnson, Henry, Taylor and Wetterech can do. I want to see all those 4 guys play on day 1 and at least once more on Saturday.

The Euros had plenty of no-name giant killers come up big when they were the underdogs. Would love to see that from our side for a change.

emc · #8 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 05:01 PM

Johnson would be a good 4balls/somes partner for a guy like David Toms. The only guy i'm not worried about is Brett Quitterich (after the 18th hole Friday). The other 3 rookies have played well enough in patches to warrant a space.

Seems strange though, on our side we have a guy with 3 wins this season not on the team whereas you guys are struggling to fill the team!

stlcard_25 · #9 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 05:25 PM

I really thought Love would make the team...it's been forever since he wasn't on one of these. That said, Verplank is a solid, tough competitor and Cink can roll the rock, at least under normal conditions. I hope he doesn't succumb to the pressure like he has a couple times in previous team matches. Nonetheless, the Europeans are huge favorites this time around...hopefully we can just hang with them the first two days and pull a shocker on Sunday.

The Godfather · #10 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 07:45 PM

I don't like the Verplank pick.. Scott has not been playing well lately and even he sounded surprised when he was picked. The Cink pick I think was a given. He's played his way onto the team the last few weeks. But I thought Love, Pavin or even O'Hair, guys with fire, would have been better picks.

But the one thing I'm worried about this team is the passion. There's a few fiery guys like Tiger, DiMarco, Toms, Zach Johnson and Furyk. But then you have Chad Campbell, Cink, Verplank, Vaughn Taylor, and J.J. Henry who are about as passionate as a turtle, and have very little experience. As for Brett Wetterich? This guy doesn't have a top-10 since his win, and all of a sudden he's on the team? How the heck do they pick these teams?

Fondy Golf · #11 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 08:52 PM

I think Jerry Kelly should have been a captain's pick. What that team needs is someone to bring some excitement to be there. Plus if you team Jerry Kelly with Chris Dimarco you get at least 2 1/2, if not 3 or more points from the team matches, something American golfers severly struggle with.

Wildbore · #12 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 08:59 PM

Wetterich has done alot more than Cink, Love or Verplank this year, thats how hes on the team.

Golf Fanatic · #13 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Godfather

I don't like the Verplank pick.. Scott has not been playing well lately and even he sounded surprised when he was picked. The Cink pick I think was a given. He's played his way onto the team the last few weeks. But I thought Love, Pavin or even O'Hair, guys with fire, would have been better picks.

I think Scott's tie for 4th in Buick was a deciding factor. Else Lehman might have picked Love or Stricker.

But the one thing I'm worried about this team is the passion. There's a few fiery guys like Tiger, DiMarco, Toms, Zach Johnson and Furyk. But then you have Chad Campbell, Cink, Verplank, Vaughn Taylor, and J.J. Henry who are about as passionate as a turtle, and have very little experience. As for Brett Wetterich? This guy doesn't have a top-10 since his win, and all of a sudden he's on the team? How the heck do they pick these teams?

Thought Wetterich tied for 2nd in Memorial, I would like to see the U.S. overhaul their points system and go stricltly by world rankings points over a 12 month period.

skaghetti · #14 (**permalink**) August 21st, 2006, 10:01 PM

the team seems fairly well-rounded. good picks

***brianf*** · #15 (**permalink**) August 22nd, 2006, 12:22 AM

I can see Verplank for sure. A real grinder and the kind of guy I would want on my team.

Cink??? The best of what was left over???

Has Cink ever won a Ryder Cup Match? I'm not sure.

How have both played at the Match Play at Lacosta the last couple of years?

I bet it ws really tough going for Tom to make the picks. If the USA team does well, it will be brilliant picks.

If they loose we will hear "Why did Tom pick those guys?

I tell you what, I saw the replay of the press conference and Tom seems like a real "take the bull by the horns" type of captain. He should be worth a point or two with his leadership alone.

bianf

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