The race to qualify for captain Paul McGinley's team is nearing its final stages, with only five events left in which to earn points (WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, US PGA Championship, Made in Denmark, D+D REAL Czech Masters, Italian Open). The next two events offer enormous amounts of points and represent the make or break for those on the outside looking in.
As the European team takes shape, it's amazing to see how different this year's team looks versus the 2012 version. Here was the 2012 team:
Rory McIlroy
Justin Rose
Paul Lawrie
Graeme McDowell
Francesco Molinari
Luke Donald
Lee Westwood
Sergio Garcia
Peter Hanson
Martin Kaymer
Ian Poulter (captain's pick)
Nicolas Colsaerts (captain's pick)
As it stands now, the 2014 squad would look like this:
Rory McIlroy
Victor Dubuisson
Jamie Donaldson
Henrik Stenson
Sergio Garcia
Justin Rose
Martin Kaymer
Thomas Bjorn
Luke Donald
(captain's pick)
(captain's pick)
(captain's pick)
Out of the nine players currently in the top-9, four were not on the last Ryder Cup team (two rookies). Luke Donald is trending downward with Graeme McDowell coming fast and furious. Where is Ian Poulter? "Poults" is currently 7th on the European Points List (top-4 qualify) and 12th on the World Points List (top-5 not already qualified). Unfortunately, he's had a poor season and has missed his last two cuts. He recently was stung by a horsefly in England and had to go to the hospital, and it's unsure if he'll play in the WGC this week. But we all know what kind of record the Englishman has in this competition so it's very hard to think he'll miss out on a captain's pick if he doesn't qualify automatically.
Another Ryder Cup stalwart not having a good season is Lee Westwood. The eight-time Ryder Cup team member won the Maybank Malaysian Open in April but is still 20th and 16th on the points lists. Assistant captain and 2002 Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam Torrance said a few weeks ago that Westwood should be a lock. If "Westy" doesn't perform well in the next month or so, he could be missing out on his first Ryder Cup.
Where are Lawrie, Molinari, Hanson, and Colsaerts? Only Molinari is within shouting distance of automatically qualifying for the team. The Italian sits 14th on both lists and I expect him to do everything in his power to qualify for the team (i.e. playing all five events to gather more points). Wouldn't it be awesome if he won his national open and, by doing so, qualified for the team?
Lawrie (75th and 91st) would be a really compelling pick if he wins an event or finishes well in one or two. Being a Scot and McGinley stating that he'd love Scottish representation in the team like the Irish team had in 2006, it's not completely over for "Chippy." The 45-year-old has had an atrocious year with the putter and has seen his world ranking fall to 215th. He is scheduled to play in the Made in Denmark event so if he performs well, McGinley could give him a thought.
Colsaerts (69th and 73rd) and Hanson (51st and 50th) have both had a rough time since the Ryder Cup and they need to set their sights on the 2016 edition. We'll see lots more of them in Europe due to Colsaerts announcing that he's finished playing the PGA Tour after he couldn't get adjusted to life in America and Hanson's poor play has seen him probably, barring a miraculous turnaround, lose his PGA Tour card.
Stephen Gallacher is currently 12th and 11th on the lists, but only around eight points (world ranking points) behind Donald for the 9th spot. He's having the best season of his career and certainly looks like someone who's going to qualify automatically. Being Scottish doesn't hurt his case either. There's no way a Ryder Cup in the Home of Golf cannot have a Scotsman in the team.
Two other dark horses are Joost Luiten (10th and 15th) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (11th and 13th). Luiten's play has tailed off recently but he has the game to perform well in the next two weeks to give himself a better chance. The "most interesting man in golf" has won twice this season on the European Tour and once on the Champions Tour in the United States. Like Luiten, the Spaniard has not performed to his usual standard in previous weeks, but it's remarkable to think that a 50-year-old is in contention for a Ryder Cup spot. Don't rule out the "Mechanic!"
The next two weeks should see the team look about 75% set. After that, it's up to players outside the top-9 to impress the captain with their play in the next three events, whether they be on the European or PGA Tours. It obviously makes for compelling viewing!
The 40th Ryder Cup will take place at the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland from September 26-28.
Showing posts with label Peter Hanson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Hanson. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
After early exits from the Match Play, there is a cause for concern for some Europeans regarding 2014 Ryder Cup
After the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, many of Europe's top players were left booking an earlier flight home than they had originally planned. Ian Poulter, the 2010 winner of this event, was one of the favorites due to his supreme matchplay record in both individual and team competitions. Poulter lost 2 & 1 to Rickie Fowler. In 2014, Poulter's results haven't been up to his usual high standards, with a T47, missed cut, and 59th being his results, all in America.
Lee Westwood, who recently split with coach Sean Foley, lost 5 & 3 to Harris English. The former world number one is now down to 33rd in the world and has not won since the 2012 Nordea Masters. The Englishman's results in 2014 have been better than his friend Poulter's, with a 47th, missed cut, and 20th being his finishes, also all in America.
Another former world number one, Luke Donald, has been undergoing swing changes with his new coach, Chuck Cook. As a result, he's now 20th in the world rankings, but successfully defended the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japan Golf Tour at the end of last year, so he seems to be going in the right direction. The 2011 winner of this event lost to a similar player in Matteo Manassero 5 & 4 in this year's staging. Donald played his first two events of this year in the Middle East, with results of 37th and 57th.
Lastly, Martin Kaymer, yet another former #1-ranked player in the world, has struggled to recapture that form. Down to 49th in the world, the 2010 PGA Championship winner lost to Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama 2 & 1.
Despite these first round big-name European casualties, there was an "upset" produced by a European trying to get back to full fitness. Peter Hanson defeated Dustin Johnson, considered by some to be the pre-tournament favorite, 4 & 3. The two-time Ryder Cupper has struggled with a back injury since the beginning of last season, but some positive results over the last 5-6 months has him optimistic about a return to form.
Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Stephen Gallacher, Mikko Ilonen, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazábal, Joost Luiten, and Francesco Molinari, who are all looking to earn Ryder Cup spots in captain Paul McGinley's team, lost in their first round matchups.
Lee Westwood, who recently split with coach Sean Foley, lost 5 & 3 to Harris English. The former world number one is now down to 33rd in the world and has not won since the 2012 Nordea Masters. The Englishman's results in 2014 have been better than his friend Poulter's, with a 47th, missed cut, and 20th being his finishes, also all in America.
Another former world number one, Luke Donald, has been undergoing swing changes with his new coach, Chuck Cook. As a result, he's now 20th in the world rankings, but successfully defended the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japan Golf Tour at the end of last year, so he seems to be going in the right direction. The 2011 winner of this event lost to a similar player in Matteo Manassero 5 & 4 in this year's staging. Donald played his first two events of this year in the Middle East, with results of 37th and 57th.
Lastly, Martin Kaymer, yet another former #1-ranked player in the world, has struggled to recapture that form. Down to 49th in the world, the 2010 PGA Championship winner lost to Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama 2 & 1.
Despite these first round big-name European casualties, there was an "upset" produced by a European trying to get back to full fitness. Peter Hanson defeated Dustin Johnson, considered by some to be the pre-tournament favorite, 4 & 3. The two-time Ryder Cupper has struggled with a back injury since the beginning of last season, but some positive results over the last 5-6 months has him optimistic about a return to form.
Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Stephen Gallacher, Mikko Ilonen, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazábal, Joost Luiten, and Francesco Molinari, who are all looking to earn Ryder Cup spots in captain Paul McGinley's team, lost in their first round matchups.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
For some Europeans, the PGA Tour season has come to an end
On the PGA Tour this week, the FedExCup Playoffs begin with The Barclays. Last week was the last chance for players to earn enough points to make the top-125 in order to be eligible for the Playoffs. Also, it was the last chance for players to earn enough money to finish inside the top-125 on the Tour's money list. Being inside either the top-125 in points or earnings will guarantee a player's spot on Tour next season. Several European Tour members who also ply their trade on the U.S. Tour will be missing out on the Playoffs or have not earned enough money and will not have full playing privileges next season on the PGA Tour.
Two exceptions to this are Padraig Harrington and Nicolas Colsaerts. Both players finished outside the top-125 in points, but finished inside that number on the money list to guarantee their full playing rights for next season.
The soon-to-be 42-year-old Harrington finished 130th in points with 345 (125th place had 369), but finished 113th on the money list with $711,244. The affable Irishman had three top-10 finishes during the PGA Tour season.
Colsaerts, the 30-year-old Belgian, finished his rookie season on the PGA Tour at 128th in points with 353. He was likely to remain inside the top-125 if he had not withdrawn prior to the final counting event, the Wyndham Championship, due to neck and shoulder injuries. He will keep his Tour card courtesy of finishing 110th on the money list with $720,164. The "Belgian Bomber" had three top-10s during this year's spell in America.
Others, however, were not so lucky.
Englishman Ross Fisher, a PGA Tour rookie after earning his card through the Qualifying School, notched just one top-10 en route to finishing a disappointing 161st in points and the same position on the money list with $311,168. The 2010 Ryder Cupper finished the season ranked 5th in Greens in Regulation (69.71%) but will rue his play on the greens as he finished 183rd in Putts per Round (30.52). An opening round 64 left him tied for the lead at the Wyndham Championship, but shot subsequent rounds of 69-74-72 to finish T-52. This was an epitome of his PGA Tour season. In the end, the 32-year-old can look back to his putting, to go along with playing new courses and being a member of a new tour, as the reasons for his hugely disappointing PGA Tour season.
Maybe the biggest surprise to (possibly) lose his playing rights was the Swede, Peter Hanson. A veteran of the past two Ryder Cups, Hanson was also playing his first season as member of the PGA Tour. Hobbled by a back injury which plagued him for most of the season, he was not able to build on a hugely successful 2012 season which saw him win twice on the European Tour en route to finishing 4th on the Race to Dubai (money list). This season on the U.S. Tour, the 36-year-old only notched one top-10 finish and had three withdrawals and two missed cuts out of 15 events. He looked all but set to finish inside the top-125 in points after finishing T-33 at the PGA Championship, but needed to make the cut at the Wyndham in order to guarantee his place on Tour for 2013-14. Rounds of 68 and 73 saw him miss the cut. He ended his season 127th in points with 356.
There is a glimmer of hope, though. Hanson earned enough money ($610,178) to put him at number 124 on the money list. If no one outside the top-125 on the money list were competing in the FedExCup playoffs, the Swede would be home free and he could count on another season in the States next year. However, due to George McNeill ($475,838), Stuart Appleby ($489,613), Scott Langley ($573,564), and Chez Reavie ($590,925) all qualifying for the Playoffs via the points list, each one has a chance to pass Hanson due to the fact that all four players are outside the top-125 on the money list. So the six-time European Tour winner will have to sweat it out and see if any of these four can overtake him on the money list.
Lastly, it was another disappointing season for Robert Karlsson, the 43-year-old Swede. The 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner decided to join the PGA Tour for the first time in 2012 and finished 158th on the points list, but regained his position on Tour with a solid showing at the Qualifying School (had to play both 2nd and Final Stages). This year was better, but he still fell short of the top-125. Due to his category coming out of Q-School, the big Swede was not able to play a full schedule. He did, however, qualify for both the U.S. Open and Open Championship. But you cannot possibly keep your card by only garnering one top-10 and missing nine cuts in 18 events. His 2013 PGA Tour stats were: 156th in FedExCup points (236) and 143rd in money earned ($444,238)
The 11-time European Tour winner (most wins by a Swede on the European Tour) now has a choice to make regarding 2014: Either take part in the Web.com Tour Finals and earn your PGA Tour card that way, or play on the European Tour next season. He could also play on sponsor's invitations in a limited number of tournaments next season. The Finals are open to players who finished 126-200 on the FedExCup points list or in the top-75 on the Web.com Tour money list. The Finals comprise of four events and a money list for those four events will determine 25 PGA Tour cards (this replaces PGA Tour Q-School which will no longer be taking place). He is exempt in Europe until 2018 courtesy of his Order of Merit win (10-year exemption). He's currently ranked 239th in the Official World Golf Rankings and needs to have some balance in his playing schedule. He actually resigned his European Tour membership this season due to the fact that he would not be able to fulfill the 13 tournament minimum in Europe because he was trying to focus on keeping his U.S. Tour card. The two-time Ryder Cupper is looking at a similar season if he chooses to play primarily in the States.
Although their seasons in America have concluded, the European Tour is still plugging away with 11 tournaments left on the Race to Dubai schedule. Harrington will be playing in both the ISPS Handa Wales Open and the Omega European Masters in the next two weeks, while Colsaerts will be resting his injury and return to the Tour at the KLM Open in three weeks and play the following week at the Italian Open. Fisher is competing in this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and also next week in Wales. His website lists him playing the next five weeks in a row, but no confirmation has been made. Hanson will most likely defend his 2012 title at the KLM Open. There is no upcoming schedule for Karlsson yet, but I would guess a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals is in order.
Two exceptions to this are Padraig Harrington and Nicolas Colsaerts. Both players finished outside the top-125 in points, but finished inside that number on the money list to guarantee their full playing rights for next season.
The soon-to-be 42-year-old Harrington finished 130th in points with 345 (125th place had 369), but finished 113th on the money list with $711,244. The affable Irishman had three top-10 finishes during the PGA Tour season.
Colsaerts, the 30-year-old Belgian, finished his rookie season on the PGA Tour at 128th in points with 353. He was likely to remain inside the top-125 if he had not withdrawn prior to the final counting event, the Wyndham Championship, due to neck and shoulder injuries. He will keep his Tour card courtesy of finishing 110th on the money list with $720,164. The "Belgian Bomber" had three top-10s during this year's spell in America.
Others, however, were not so lucky.
Englishman Ross Fisher, a PGA Tour rookie after earning his card through the Qualifying School, notched just one top-10 en route to finishing a disappointing 161st in points and the same position on the money list with $311,168. The 2010 Ryder Cupper finished the season ranked 5th in Greens in Regulation (69.71%) but will rue his play on the greens as he finished 183rd in Putts per Round (30.52). An opening round 64 left him tied for the lead at the Wyndham Championship, but shot subsequent rounds of 69-74-72 to finish T-52. This was an epitome of his PGA Tour season. In the end, the 32-year-old can look back to his putting, to go along with playing new courses and being a member of a new tour, as the reasons for his hugely disappointing PGA Tour season.
Maybe the biggest surprise to (possibly) lose his playing rights was the Swede, Peter Hanson. A veteran of the past two Ryder Cups, Hanson was also playing his first season as member of the PGA Tour. Hobbled by a back injury which plagued him for most of the season, he was not able to build on a hugely successful 2012 season which saw him win twice on the European Tour en route to finishing 4th on the Race to Dubai (money list). This season on the U.S. Tour, the 36-year-old only notched one top-10 finish and had three withdrawals and two missed cuts out of 15 events. He looked all but set to finish inside the top-125 in points after finishing T-33 at the PGA Championship, but needed to make the cut at the Wyndham in order to guarantee his place on Tour for 2013-14. Rounds of 68 and 73 saw him miss the cut. He ended his season 127th in points with 356.
There is a glimmer of hope, though. Hanson earned enough money ($610,178) to put him at number 124 on the money list. If no one outside the top-125 on the money list were competing in the FedExCup playoffs, the Swede would be home free and he could count on another season in the States next year. However, due to George McNeill ($475,838), Stuart Appleby ($489,613), Scott Langley ($573,564), and Chez Reavie ($590,925) all qualifying for the Playoffs via the points list, each one has a chance to pass Hanson due to the fact that all four players are outside the top-125 on the money list. So the six-time European Tour winner will have to sweat it out and see if any of these four can overtake him on the money list.
Lastly, it was another disappointing season for Robert Karlsson, the 43-year-old Swede. The 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner decided to join the PGA Tour for the first time in 2012 and finished 158th on the points list, but regained his position on Tour with a solid showing at the Qualifying School (had to play both 2nd and Final Stages). This year was better, but he still fell short of the top-125. Due to his category coming out of Q-School, the big Swede was not able to play a full schedule. He did, however, qualify for both the U.S. Open and Open Championship. But you cannot possibly keep your card by only garnering one top-10 and missing nine cuts in 18 events. His 2013 PGA Tour stats were: 156th in FedExCup points (236) and 143rd in money earned ($444,238)
The 11-time European Tour winner (most wins by a Swede on the European Tour) now has a choice to make regarding 2014: Either take part in the Web.com Tour Finals and earn your PGA Tour card that way, or play on the European Tour next season. He could also play on sponsor's invitations in a limited number of tournaments next season. The Finals are open to players who finished 126-200 on the FedExCup points list or in the top-75 on the Web.com Tour money list. The Finals comprise of four events and a money list for those four events will determine 25 PGA Tour cards (this replaces PGA Tour Q-School which will no longer be taking place). He is exempt in Europe until 2018 courtesy of his Order of Merit win (10-year exemption). He's currently ranked 239th in the Official World Golf Rankings and needs to have some balance in his playing schedule. He actually resigned his European Tour membership this season due to the fact that he would not be able to fulfill the 13 tournament minimum in Europe because he was trying to focus on keeping his U.S. Tour card. The two-time Ryder Cupper is looking at a similar season if he chooses to play primarily in the States.
Although their seasons in America have concluded, the European Tour is still plugging away with 11 tournaments left on the Race to Dubai schedule. Harrington will be playing in both the ISPS Handa Wales Open and the Omega European Masters in the next two weeks, while Colsaerts will be resting his injury and return to the Tour at the KLM Open in three weeks and play the following week at the Italian Open. Fisher is competing in this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and also next week in Wales. His website lists him playing the next five weeks in a row, but no confirmation has been made. Hanson will most likely defend his 2012 title at the KLM Open. There is no upcoming schedule for Karlsson yet, but I would guess a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals is in order.
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