The Golf Blog: Lehman Picks Verplank and Cink

Monday, August 21, 2006

Lehman Picks Verplank and Cink

Somewhat of a surprise to me, Lehman announced this morning that he has selected Scott Verplank and Stewart Cink to play on the 2006 Ryder Cup Team. ESPN.com's coverage here.

6 Comments:

At 9:34 AM, allCarry said...: Their names end with "K" and the Cup will be played at the "K" club, so Lehman was looking for some good "karma."

I think Verplank is a gutsy player, but Stewart Cink went 1-2-1 the last time around, as I recall.
At 9:41 AM, calygolfing said...: I couldn't be more disapointed in his selection of Cink! I literally would take ANY player on the tour instead him! He's choked so many times when it mattered.....he's just got no guts!

Lehman's not giving me a warm fuzzy he knows what he's doing at ALL!
At 10:51 AM, IceMan said...: Lehman said "This team really needed someone who can putt and chip and hit the ball on the fairway".

I thought the ryder cup was just like any other golf tournament, trying to post the lowest possible scores. What in the world does it matter how that is done ?

I have huge respect for Lehman though and think he'll be a much better captain than Sutton was, even though that should not be difficult.
At 11:31 AM, Anonymous said...: What is interesting about this team is the absence of proven "winners". Obviously, Woods, Mickelson, Furyk and Toms each has an impressive resume, with 10+ wins on tour. But Campbell (3), Di Marco (3), Taylor (1), Johnson (2), Cink (4), Henry (1), Wetterich (1) and Verplank (4) just don't. This is a real change from most previous teams (although the '04 team also had few proven winners).

But the history of recent Ryder Cups suggests that you don't need proven (tour) winners to win...Look at Europe's success in the 1980s and 90s. Often at least some of the main stars like Faldo, Seve, Wossie, Langer would have a bad cup. And so Europe relied on the likes of Paul Way in 1985, Olazabal in 1987, O'Connor Jnr in 1989, Broadhurst and Richardson in 1991, Peter Baker in 1993, David Gilford in 1995...

Europe's success suggests that you need guys who are playing good golf that week, and who burn to win the ryder cup...If the ryder cup is the biggest thing for these young guns (bigger than winning, say, the '04 Bellsouth Classic for Zach Johnson etc), then they're going to their upmost to win this thing.

So, although Europe looks like it may field its strongest all-round team ever, and may look to have more ryder cup experience than the US, and although I'll be supporting Woosie's men, I'm predicting a US victory by 2 or 3 points.
At 3:11 PM, Jim Green said...: I am completely baffled by Cink being picked. He has never done well with the Ryder Cup. Ok I can see Verplank. He is a worker and grinder. But Cink, no way.
I do respect Lehman, as a pro, but as a captain, hmmmm.....no warm fuzzy here.
At 11:06 PM, E-Man said...: re: putt and chip and put the ball in the fairway

The Ryder Cup is NOT like any other golf tournament --extreme pressure aside. First, none of the matches are stroke play --all match play. The worst thing you can do is allow your opponent to win the hole with a par, and there is no premimum on winning a hole by two or more strokes. It's a great levelling device that evens out the players.

Second most of the competitions are team competitions, either four balls or alternate shot. For four balls you want a "steady Eddie" player who can make pars consistently and avoid trouble. Thats driving the fairway, chipping, and good putting. In alternate shot you want someone who can set up their teammate, or seal the deal on the green. Thats driving the fairway and putting.

Lehman already has the bombers and the guys who can make the special shots consistently. What he needs is a few more "steady" guys who can grind stuff out.

As stated a couple of times already, I was really pulling for Jerry Kelly, because I think he would bring a lot of fire and between him and DiMarco they could probably liven up the team. He's been playing better lately, but not quite top flight, so I can understand why he was not selected. Had he won the GMO, I would have protested more strongly.