The President's Cup - Page 2

niss · #11 08-16-2007, 11:57 AM

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Players around 20th get chosen from Ryder/Presidents Cup teams nearly every year. Without checking numbers, captain's picks such as Couples and Floyd were well above 20th I believe. Nobody would ever question those guys.

Weir being chosen was no surprise regardless of where the event is being held.

BO

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Plus I'm guessing he will know the course better than anyone else.

tuq · #12 08-16-2007, 12:28 PM

Bitcho,

In addition to what's been mentioned, Weir will have a big "home field advantage" that should* overcome whatever shortcoming his game has currently between him and the 11-19 guys.

* Sometimes the weight of expectations work backwards though. Like how Tim Duncan is a much better free throw shooter on the road, and also I remember Weir totally gagging a Canadian Open to Vijay a few years ago, he had it in his hands and the crowd was going nutty but he choked down the stretch. Curious to see how he does this time.

Butcho22 · #13 08-16-2007, 01:01 PM

Well I stand corrected to some degree I suppose. Although I will say that previous picks were made because those players were playing well leading up to the time selections were made. Weir is certainly not playing well atm so it's a bit different then picking Verplank in 2006, or Couples, etc.

Clarkmeister · #14 08-16-2007, 02:05 PM

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this Weir pick is taking it to a new level, but I could be wrong.

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Well I stand corrected to some degree I suppose.

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If by "to some degree" you mean "I stand 100% corrected - I was dead wrong", then you've got it nailed.

shemp · #15 08-16-2007, 02:10 PM

Butch I disagree with you, too, and the only thing I'd add to the points already made: even if it all came down to, "It's in Canada, and he's Canadian, and this will spur some local interest" I personally don't think it diminishes the event and would probably be a good decision for the event.

SonOfWestwood · #16 08-16-2007, 03:31 PM

How about the last President's Cup, when Couples was picked? I don't remember, but I'm guessing he wasn't terribly high in the rankings list.

I have a question: is there some reason Nicklaus and Player are like the perennial captains in this event? Why aren't they getting new ones each time like in the Ryder Cup?

tuq · #17 08-16-2007, 03:38 PM

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How about the last President's Cup, when Couples was picked? I don't remember, but I'm guessing he wasn't terribly high in the rankings list.

I have a question: is there some reason Nicklaus and Player are like the perennial captains in this event? Why aren't they getting new ones each time like in the Ryder Cup?

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Regarding Couples, I have no clue as to his ranking but obviously pedigree is a factor. Which it should be - let's get names we've heard of with some history in the event, and let the noobs have to earn their way into the party.

I mean seriously, Vaughn Taylor, Brett Wetterich, JJ Henry? Among the best golfers in the world to be sure, but I'd prefer to see the auto-picks pared down to 6-8 and defer to the captain for the rest. Winning one tournament in two years and earning points by playing in every. single. event. does not a sexy Ryder Cupper make.

I don't mind the perma-captains by the way. For one thing, if you rotated captains in BOTH events you'd be running out of guys after awhile. For another, it gives the event two very recognizable names, which is great for that event as it's the Ryder Cup's little regarded sister IMO (despite having better golfers and better recent drama) and needs all the props it can get.

shemp · #18 08-16-2007, 03:47 PM

Larry Nelson says "hey." One of these days Markie O'Meara is gonna get a Ryder Cup team and I'm gonna puke. I like fewer Captain's picks as opposed to more. I'm pretty sure we've had this argument a few times.

Butcho22 · #19 08-16-2007, 03:48 PM

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this Weir pick is taking it to a new level, but I could be wrong.

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Well I stand corrected to some degree I suppose.

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If by "to some degree" you mean "I stand 100% corrected - I was dead wrong", then you've got it nailed.

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Give me a name of someone who has played as poorly as Weir leading up to the event and still was picked. If this was in South Africa again, Weir wouldn't even be on the map of players to pick.

tuq · #20 08-16-2007, 03:53 PM

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Larry Nelson says "hey." One of these days Markie O'Meara is gonna get a Ryder Cup team and I'm gonna puke. I like fewer Captain's picks as opposed to more. I'm pretty sure we've had this argument a few times.

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Don't know where you're going with the Larry Nelson comment. He was never a captain, was he? Besides, the captain thing is retarded anyway, all they do is ride around in golf carts and set the matchups (granted, this part is important but I'd rather see a monkey pull them out of a punch bowl) and generally get way too much camera time.

I don't remember how previous iterations of the captain's picks debate went, but pretty strongly am in favor of upping the number of picks, and don't feel bad if guys at 7-10 or whatever get passed over. Wahhh wahhh, it's an event you don't get paid for anyway and you get jet lag every other year. They should punch someone or drink diet coke and chain smoke around the course while weighing 300 lbs., that will get them noticed and improve their chances of making the team.