Ryder Cup Round One Goes to the Red, White and Blue
Written by Brandon Underwood Online Editor
Colin Montgomerie showed he has some serious scones Sunday evening, selecting a struggling Padraig Harrington for the European Ryder Cup side over Paul Casey and Justin Rose.
Sure, Harrington is a three-time major champion, but he's been the definition of average in the past two seasons and his Ryder Cup record is atrocious.
When the announcement was made in Gleneagles, Scotland, Harrington and Casey were paired together in the final round of The Barclays in Paramus, New Jersey. Their ill-timed togetherness was probably as awkward as Tiger and Elin's Monday court appearance.
"I probably need time to take it in," Casey said after his round. "I'm not going to stand here and sort of plead a case for why I should be on the team. It's done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn't make it.
"I think Europe have got an unbelievable team. I wish them the best for the match, simple as that."
Monty made multiple mentions of "staure" when justifying Harrington's addition to the roster.
On his BBC Sport Blog, Ian Carter argued that Casey's decision to dedicate more of his time to playing in the States was the reason he was left off the team.
"Casey, the world number nine, will feel bitterly disappointed to miss out and he has paid a heavy price for putting the FedEx Cup before the Ryder Cup," Carter wrote.
"That famed European team spirit is so crucial and his apparent indifference through the summer seriously undermined his claims in the eyes of many of the continent's stalwarts; figures like vice captains Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn."
"Paul Casey may well like to hang something else around Montgomerie's neck," Reason suggested. "On Ryder Cup record, matchplay record, world ranking and recent form, Casey had every right to expect to be picked ahead of Padraig Harrington.
"Montgomerie preferred to play favourites as predicted, announcing Harrington first and then adding the names of Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari. Harrington's selection was the one serious blow to the captain's credibility."
We're still more than a month away from the first tee ball being struck in Wales, but what transpired Sunday was a definitive victory for the United States.
Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez were able to play themselves onto the European side by competing in the Czech Open and Johnnie Walker Championship. While they're both ranked in the top 40, Hanson and Jimenez aren't of the same quality as Rose and Casey.
Chances are that the European team would look a shade different if Monty would've had 100 percent say in the composition of his line-up. But the system as it is helped a U.S. squad that is less prolific.
"If somebody who is 10th in the world doesn't make the team, maybe they need to take a look at how the team is selected," Donald noted on Saturday evening.
The Americans have dodged a bullet by drawing some of Europe's best talent to participate in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. This is the greatest single contribution the four-year series has made to the game of golf in the U.S.
