Quote:
Originally Posted by ligastar
fwiw, Glover is #16 (bt McCarthy and Kitayama) on the RC pts standings
wouldn't say he's on the team right now
As of now there are only 2 players that are dead lock captain picks: Schauffele and Spieth.
Going down the list...
Cam Young (9) is a likely pick as Couples stuck his foot in his mouth, but he is not certain. His game not being suited to the RC course does not help.
Collin Morikawa (10) has been playing better as of late, and is also a likely pick. His game likely suits the course well, and for Zach Morikawa seems to be the safe pick as he played well in 2021 RC (3-0-1). That being said Morikawa has not won in 2 years, but his game would have to go deeply south from here to miss the team.
Keegan Bradley (11) is likely on the outside looking in, but he has a chance to impress Zach in the 2 remaining FedEx Cup events.
Sam Burns (12), barring a startling turnaround performance in the remaining 2 FedEx Cup events, is likely out.
Rickie Fowler (13) seems to be on the inside track, but his RC record is poor (3-7-5), and I don't think Zach is sold quite yet. Like Bradley, Fowler has a chance to solidify his chances in the next 2 FedEx Cup events. A good showing there and Fowler is likely a lock.
Justin Thomas (14) played his career worst this year, and at times was Ian Baker-Finch bad. Does a single decent showing in a lesser event (Wyndham) get Zach to ignore the rest of Thomas' play this year? I don't think so, the primary fact being he is NOT in the FedEx Cup playoffs and is not getting any media attention. I don't sense there is a big push to get him on the team, and Zach will need to rely on Thomas' 2021 RC performance (4-1-0) and ignore 2023 entirely. A tough sell if you ask me.
Denny McCarthy (15) has virtually zero chance of being picked outside of a win at BMW or Tour Championship, and even then he has an uphill battle..
Lucas Glover (16) is the hottest player in the world right now, and his career has enjoyed an amazing renaissance. Zach can easily ignore Glover as he has the identity of a journeyman, but with 6 career wins (including a major), he more closely resembles a player like Steve Stricker, who had some rough years but ended up with 12 wins (but zero majors) and 3 RC appearances. With a lack of hot US players, along with Justin Thomas' surprise no-show this year, Glover should be a pick.
Kurt Kitayama (17), along with McCarthy, has almost zero chance of being picked, outside of a win plus a very strong showing in the next 2 events.
Will Zalatoris (18), being hurt, has zero chance of making the team.
For those further down the list,
Harris English (19) is 49th in FedEx Cup points and is certainly out barring an incredible turnaround in the next 2 events.
Russell Henley (20) had a T6 at Memphis along with a T2 at Wyndham so his recent performance has been solid. He would get on Zach's radar with a win in one of the next 2 events, a coin flip between him and Cam Young.
Like Henley,
Tony Finau (21) could get Zach's attention with a win at BMW or Tour Championship. If he does indeed win I'm guessing Zach picks Finau in over Cam Young.
Chris Kirk (24) might need two wins coming up to get on Zach's list. But his career has seen a resurgence, and a win either at the BMW or Tour Championship would bring back memories of Kirk not getting picked for the 2014 RC team.
Sahith Theegala (25), lacking a tour win, appears out barring a double win at the next two FedEx Cup events.
Odds to make team:
-Scheffler: n/l
-Clark: n/l
-Cantlay: n/l
-Harman: 1:1000
-Koepka: 1:500
-Homa: 1:500
-Spieth: 1:300
-Schauffele: 1:300
-Morikawa: 1:5
-Fowler: 1:4
-Young: 1:2
-Glover: 3:5
-Bradley: 8:5
-Thomas: 2:1
-Burns: 7:1
-Finau: 8:1
-Henley: 20:1
-McCarthy: 30:1
-Kirk: 30:1
-English: 40:1
-Kitayama: 50:1
-Theegala: 250:1