Bubba And GMac: Two Additions To 2018 Ryder Cup Intrigue

They can play the Ryder Cup on a polo field with 24 drones and we'd probably find intrigue in the biennial team match play event.

But the possibility of Graeme McDowell enjoying a resurgence and Bubba Watson playing his way onto the USA squad, adds so much personality should it happen.

Eamon Lynch at Golfweek has the McDowell angle and while the Northern Irishman downplays the Ryder Cup on his list of priorities, his play at Riviera reminds that he still has game.

Over at GolfDigest.com, Brian Wacker considers the Bubba angle, a topic that arose after his Genesis Open win. Bubba brought up the Ryder Cup and it seems after his high profile 2016 snub (7th in points, 5th cart driver), he knows that accumulating points is essential and he has Captain Furyk's support.

“I’ve been bugging Jim Furyk for the longest time,” Watson said of the American captain. “I told him I want to be a co-captain, and he’s been texting back to me this week, ‘No, you’re too good. You need to be on our team playing.’ ”

Comments

[Hawkeye]

Given that there are currently five world top 20 players outside the automatic qualifiers on the European points lists, the chances of McDowell making the team on points or getting picked, no matter what form he finds, are pretty slim.

[Gus]

Bubba would still make a great Second or third in command as Assistant (to the) Regional Manger

[BDF]

I'd say McDowell has pretty long odds on playing in the Ryder Cup...he would have to have a phenominal 6 months to get there. On the other hand, I will be surprised if Bubba does not make the US team on his own. Now that he has gotten rid of the ball he was trying to play, I'd make him a favourite at ANGC this year.

[Soro B]

Bubba is a (odd) creature of habit, will be out of his element in France, and won't add any value to the team. Was so happy he was left off Hazeltine team.

Has he punched his ticket to the WGHOF? 10 wins; two majors. But check out his majors timeline on his Wiki page. Absolutely putrid.

[FC]

To think we were so close to a Bubba retirement.

[mr miltonite]

regardless of what you think of Bubba, getting passed over when ranked 7 in the world stinks to high hell.

[FC]

3 - 8 - 0 Ryder Cup record versus best cart driver ever.

[3foot1]

I'm Bubba-neutral, but being on the team will bring out the best, most emotional in him. The Frenchy-ness that bothers him while solo won't be a problem with playing partners and captains on his side. IF he qualifies.

[OWGR Fan]

Only one of two ways G-Mac is part of the 2018 RC in France.

1) He buys/is comped a ticket.

2) Is part of the Euro Team as an assistant captain.

There is ZERO to suggest his relatively dismal play since his last professional win in a Fall Season event on the PGA Tour in 2015 will change now. This article by a normally solid writer comes off as nothing more than a filler/puff piece article for Golfweek than anything serious. Outside of his last two events at the end of 2015 he has played poorly since then. His most recent playing results do not lie.

At this time there are many more deserving players for the Euro squad than GMac. It could change but likely will not. Sorry but finishing 26th at Riviera after 3 consecutive missed cuts to start 2018 does not scream he still has game.

His last 10 starts in 2017 were MC/MC/MC/T44/T15/65/T64/T10/T34/MC. One of the nicest guys in the game but his time has past.

Hopefully he proves myself and many others wrong.

[FC]

Poor G-Mac, no respect. He's picked up 11 yards in driving distance for 2018, and now there are forces who want to take it away from him.

290.7 (T151).