Its all well and good to try and build the best team of golfers to represent the US, but I think what our squad is missing the last few Cups is the "team" concept. Tiger is no one's good buddy, Phil is TGFY (Too Good For You), Cink is too soft spoken for leading, no one knows how Furyk can hit it (octopus falling out of a tree), Leonard is too short (although Napoleon did OK for a while) etc... There is no leader amongst them because all are independent contractors as soon as they get on tour. <br /><br />The sports are completely different, but our Olympic basketball team has had a series of bad results despite having the most talented team in the world---individual talents. My point is that teams need leaders and chemistry to succeed.<br /><br />I would favor team dynamics over on-course achievments to a certain degree. Once you get to the top 25 guys on the Ryder Cup points, you are dealing with very good players that can all step up. For this reason I would like to see Rocco on the team. He is so transparent and funny that he would be the perfect jester for this team. I don't believe the course setup has so much to do with playing well regarding the right to left/left to right stuff. Kenny Perry is a big hooker too. These guys will figure it out. Torrey was supposed to be heavily favoring the bomb and gouge crowd, but Rocco was right there at the end after mosts had shot a million. He would be a very good Foursome partner in my opinion--in play and not too afraid to make pressure shots. <br /><br />Freddie Couples has historically been a great teammate with his loose demeanor and sense of humor with his peers. Also, the God-squad bonding that occured between guys like Pavin-Lehman-Janzen, etc. shouldn't be underestimated. If you look at the winning teams for the US, it seems that the commeraderie has been there before the event, not just a product of winning it. <br /><br />So for this team in 2008, I would like to see Rocco to counteract the seriousness of Cink, Leonard, and Furyk. I'd like to see the craziness of Woody and Phil converge into a confounding juggernaut of irrationality that the Euros have to contend with. I'd like to see the young new guys like Kim and Boo and maybe JB Holmes bond into a new group of future Ryder threats that don't have the sense to get nervous. All the while, Kenny Perry can act as a stabilizing influence on all the youngsters playing with him. <br /><br />It seems like all the stars need to align to win this thing, but it could happen.

IHSC, <br />DUDE, what's up? How you feeling? How's the health? Good I sure hope! I think your insperation call on Fred Couples is a good one. I would only check first to see how he's feeling first of all, but I would LOVE to see him in there. He's had a few really great rounds this season, but has seems to fallen off the radar here as of late. That could mean more back issues and maybe his physical therapy is not helping as much as he'd like? <br />I also have some reservations on Roco. Yes, he gabe us an outstanding performance against the one legged Tiger, but I'm not convinced his game is where it needs to be for the whole Ryder Cup. <br />tugoo, you're right about Phil. You never know what you're going to get with him. Some amazing **** out of trouble he should never have gotten into in the first place, or more melt downs? Much can be said about Phil on both sife of the argument, but the one thing many can't argue is you're bound to see something exciting out of him, good or bad. But I think there is so much over hype on the Euros, it's going to be a little more difficult then they hope for. Beside, after all, as Jack says, what's the big deal, it's nothing more then exabitioon golf anyway, . . . . . (right?)

Don't know how I got drug into this but will respond regarding Philly Mick.<br /><br />In an old vernacular, he plays Army golf.<br /><br />Left, right, left! He has a tendency of late to hit too many mystery shots. He does not know where they came from nor where they are going and not just from the tee.<br /><br />Don't see how US has a chance unless the Euros get lost on the way to Valhalla.

Tugoo, TopGolf,<br /><br />Is Phil Mickelson's shot shape these days a "right-to-left" fade?<br /><br />If it is, then maybe Rocco would be a good pick to partner with Phil. That way Phils' lefthand fade matches Rocco's righthand draw.<br /><br />Note to you "nubies" - A righthand player who draws the ball plays from the left side of the fairway. That's death to a Foursome** partner who fades the ball. The left hand trees blocks his ball flight.<br /><br />Comprendo?<br /><br />(Oops . . . I forgot, English only)<br /><br />Got it?<br /><br />IHSC<br /><br /><br />**Foursome Play - One player hits from the Even tees, while his partner hits from the Odds. They then alternate shots until the ball is holed.

I?m not sure I would pick Rocco Mediate.<br /><br />Know why he lost the U.S. Open? Rocco is one dimensional off the tee in the sense that he only hits the tee ball Right-to-Left.<br /><br />He was killed by Tiger at Torrey South on the Left-to-Right holes, especially #7 and #18 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.<br /><br />While Tiger was making Eagles and Birdies on the Left-to-Right #18, the best Rocco could do was three straight par 5?s. Rocco missed the 18th fairway on the left side each time.<br /><br />During the Monday playoff, Rocco was in the left fairway bunker on the Left-to-Right #7 both times and bogeyed both times. Tiger beat him with pars . . . the last one ending the playoff.<br /><br />Now take a look at Valhalla . . .<br /><br />#5 Left-to-Right<br />#6 Left-to-Right<br />#9 Left-to-Right<br /><br />#10 Straight & then Left-to-Right<br />#12 Left-to-Right<br />#15 Straight & then Left-to-Right<br />#16 Left-to-Right<br />#18 Left-to-Right<br /><br />Rocco?s stock shot would put tremendous pressure on his Foursome partner.<br /><br />I like him but not with his shot shape on that golf course. Plus his GIR?s are poor and his putting is still suspect (146th in GIR?s, 114th in Putts/Round and 118th in Putts per GIR).<br /><br />Others might be better picks - and I actually like the idea of Fred Couples being drafted as an ?inspiration? pick.<br /><br />IHSC

We need more young guys and the heck with the "mature" guys who also have significant losing Ryder Cup records. What the heck? <br /><br />Our system for choosing the top 8 guys is antiquated and a new system needs to be developed. I like Phil but I am not sure I want him on the Ryder Cup team, with his record. We need to give all of the young guys more chances. You can bet that Anthony Kim and probably J.B. Holmes will step up to the level necessary. I am not sure about Holmes actually. The game is not all about the tee ball. It is all about hitting fairways.<br /><br />Rocco should definately be there. I also like Stricker, as he knows how to elevate himself when needed.<br /><br />If Woody was not in such a funk, I might choose him also.<br /><br />I still think Fred Funk would be a good choice as would Sean O'Hair.

IHSC.<br />BUDDY!! How's the weather out there in SoCal bud? Did you read Jack's comments on the whole Ryder Cup issue. He basicly says what's the big deal, it's nothing more then exibtion golf and that no one should really care a less about Ryder Cup stats because it's all about majors and wins on the tour! But if we're going to pick guys from the past, can we please put in "the Haig" (Walter Hagen) buddy? He's got a pretty decent record in Ryder Cups. I still say they should think about putting the Dynamic Duo (Love/Couples) in on thrird string. Over all, I think we'll do just fine, . . now that Jack cleared us all not to care anymore!

picks will be Mediate, Stricker, Holmes and Snedeker............and USA will get crushed!

Sorry,<br /><br />But our only hope is that Nick Faldo picks himself and Laura Davies as his team?s two Captain?s picks.<br /><br />In all seriousness . . . the key to the 2008 Ryder Cup WILL indeed be Paul Azinger?s four (4) picks. Why? Just look at the eight (8) guys that qualified.<br /><br />2) Phil Mickelson / 0-4-1 in 2006. Rec?d an "F" from Golf World in their R/C special issue.<br />3) Stewart Cink / has won in Singles once. Anyone remember the WGC-Accenture?<br />4) Kenny Perry / 0-2-0 record. Has never won a R/C match.<br />5) Jim Furyk / 2-3-0 in 2006. Received a "C" by Golf World in their R/C special issue.<br />6) Anthony Kim<br />7) Justin Leonard / 0-3-5 record. Has never won a R/C match.<br />8) Ben Curtis <br />9) Boo Weekley <br /><br /><br />If I were Paul Azinger, I would see if Billy Casper (20-10-7), Lanny Wadkins (20-11-3), Lee Trevino (17-7-6), and the King, Arnold Palmer (22-8-2) are available that weekend.<br /><br />In their absence . . . I would fall back to Plan ?B?. I would expedite Lorena Ochoa?s U.S. citizenship, beg Annika to resume her anabolic steroid regimen, and pick two names out of any of the (45) Korean girls who play on the LPGA.<br /><br />And should Plan ?B? fail . . . then I guess I would take: Stricker, Austin, Snedeker, and Johnson from the group of twenty Honorable Mention** ?also-rans? below:<br /><br />10) STEVE STRICKER <br />11) WOODY AUSTIN <br />12) D.J. Trahan <br />13) Hunter Mahan <br />14) Sean O'Hair<br />15) Rocco Mediate<br />16) BRANDT SNEDEKER<br />17) ZACH JOHNSON <br />18) J.B. Holmes <br />19) Jeff Quinney <br />20) Bart Bryant <br />21) Chad Campbell<br />22) Jerry Kelly <br />23) Steve Flesch<br />24) Heath Slocum <br />25) Paul Goydos <br />26) Briny Baird <br />27) Bubba Watson <br />28) Steve Lowery <br />29) Pat Perez <br /><br /><br />** Actually, a few of these guys are very good. I just hope Azinger picks them and they play well enough to make-up up for another ?oh-fer? named Phil.

hey! what about Rocco??!!

how about fred funk.<br />time for a veteran who will not fold?

Glad I'm not captain, but if I was I'd much rather have a Rocco, Stricker, or even Zach on my team than any more youngsters. Too much inexperience is a bad thing, and the key to this Cup is for the newbies like Kim, Boo to step it up.