Casey isnt there because he's something of a prick: simples!

Why Donald, but not Tart Poulter's mate Justine?

Having Major winners is no guarantee of Ryder Cup success.....Woods & Mickelson have poor returns on that front. And Europe have won it a few times with no Majors on the team. Isn't the whole point that was trotted out that Europe were a team but the US the individuals?

And while Casey may be poorly thought of, Rose won the European Order of merit in 07 so he has served his service over here before going off to be successful in the US, as well as the already mentioned partnership with Poulter.

Were we favourites last time too?

I have had a bad feeling about this for a while.

Don't forget it's being played in Wales in October when it will be cold, wet, windy, misty, foggy, etc. etc. all at the same time.

The Americans won't be able to swing for all the layers they'll need to wear. And the cold air will negate Bubba Watson's 500-yard drives. Sorted.

Wales is like that in the Summer

That will make the course player longer not shorter - so length of the tee will be even more important!

Yes. Which is exaclty why Casey isn't in and Harrington is. Harrington is a great behind the scenes guy who has huge respect from all the team.

If you could pick the whole team then Casey and Rose would be in it but they can't.

There should be at least 4 picks

Donald has said that it "punishes those who want to play against the best players week in week out in the states" but thats not sustainable now is it? Which tour player won the Open? US Open? PGA? Which tour is the stronger? Luke: you're talking about money, not calibre.

Europe will win and will well despite a few ups and downs.

Why? Our players are better than their players at golf.

I agree with Groomy on this one.

Personally I wouldnt have picked Harrington, but I'm not the captain and will fully get behind the team and those he has picked.

I think we'll win as we do have the better team, and players too.

Primarily, I'm pleased he went with Molinari when it would have been easy to pick one of the bigger names. I think Edoardo is now ranked 15th in the world or something, and on great form so he is a sensible pick.

As far as Harrington / Donald / Casey / Rose goes, you could put a good case forward for any one of the four, although on golfing form Casey has got every right to be upset. World number 8 not in the team? Ridiculous.

However, that's the fault of the system, not Monty. The obvious way to structure it going forward would be top 4 / 5 from the European tour, followed by the next 4 / 5 from the world list. No disrespect, but I don't think Jimenez or Hanson will be particularly successful or feature much in the first 2 days.

One thing he has done well is play a good political game with his staff, in getting Garcia & Rhys Davies involved. Clever move that.

Anyway, good luck to the Europeans. I'm going on the Friday and can't wait.

True

But

Harrington, 3 time major winner and geat Ryder Cup servant
Donald, superb Ryder record and recent form, great Ryder record
Rose, two time winner on the US Tour this year and natural partner for Poulter. Great clutch putter.

As you can say a case can be made for all four!

I'd have all 12 picked by Monty

its not just this thread, but this weeks email from scotsman fantasy golf doesn't have a lot of love for Casey either!

Its not a huge secret in the golfing world that he's not best liked

Ryder Cup is a big team event and off the course stuff can be crucial

What are the reasons for his lack of popularity, as they are not obvious to the casual non golfing observer.

He is incredibly smug for starters! Go on Betfair golf forum for more on his lack of popularity!
Going back to Harrington - his record in Ryder Cup is woeful (especially last 2 comps)
I think Woods is going to have a big comp - it will be the first time he isnt seen as their tailsman and I think that will work for him!

I'm not so sure. He can't putt at the moment especially under pressure. Matchplay is an awful lot about putting under pressure!

I dont think its a huge deal with Casey but he's a loner and very single minded (Faldoesque) which can come across as arrogant self serving, Harrington is a social team man and i think that swung it.

With Bear on this, and a successful US defence.

Trust me.

I hereby place the Groomy reputation on a European win.

What reputation

I follow golf and I have not had any inkling of Casey's unpopularity.
One assertion repeated on Betfair and an arrogant know-all on here does not convince me.
Poulter and Donald were quick to support him,which won't have pleased Doubtfire and is hard to understand if they don't like him.
I think Casey upset the brass of the PGA when he was outspoken in his criticism of what they had done to his beloved Wentworth for their showcase BMW championship this year.
He might just have been right.

Pay attention then

On this subject, I was reading the latest Golf World last night which has a strong RC focus and in the course of an interview discussing Faldo's captaincy suggests Casey was preparing to walk out on the Friday night, the reason being he couldn't fathom what he was doing there as a pick if he wasn't going to be playing. Highlights it has never been confirmed but that's what the rumours have been

The other night Mark Roe described Faldo as the worst Ryder Cup captain of his professional career-from his opening speech,through Sandwichgate and downhill from there.(I credit him with picking Poults). I would imagine considerable unrest behind the scenes.You have already highlighted the antipathy between Pad and Sergio,which seemed to undermine both of them. But Casey walking out before the singles???That would be a first!And a virtual career-ender.
Why does Doubtfire persist in describing Casey as a four-ball only player?I remember his loss in the Match Play final to his FRIEND Ogilvy when he played too responsibly and safe.

That is correct and is suggested by Ewen Murray as being credible. Why do you want a guy on your team who has that sort of attitude? Monty will have seen that and it all adds to the mix. Not that Casey wont have come very very close to being in the team: he's a good golfer and one with a decent record in matchplay (Ryder, Walker and World) but this is an intense team game and IMO that was sufficient to give Harrington the edge.

Casey is a birdie and bogey golfer. He can hit great shots and shoot low but he can also blow it (see tee shot on the 12th in the Open this year)

That is not a guy you want in foursomes.

As well as the other things mentioned, he has a habit of referring to himself in the 3rd person in interviews: "Paul Casey hit a great putt on the 3rd" etc. And the 'Team Casey' chat is horrendous. Great golfer, but a bit of a tit.

I thought this was worth sharing. A lot of the time I've found Lawrence Donegan to have little of substance to say, but this bucks the trend. It explores the politics of the shafting of Casey.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/lawrenc ... paul-casey

If being a bit of a tit is to be the criterion for leaving a player out of a team, several Premiership managers would be struggling to select a team.

Furthermore I've still to see anything with my own eyes which suggests that Casey is a tit. He's come well out of the many interviews that I've seen him do. Clearly there's a lot I've not seen, but to my mind its still a ridiculous decision to leave out such a good match play player.

out of interest who would you have not picked for casey, striker ??

Casey would have been my first choice - so take your pick - probably Harrington.

Casey is a birdie and bogey golfer. He can hit great shots and shoot low but he can also blow it (see tee shot on the 12th in the Open this year)

That is not a guy you want in foursomes.[/quote]


Casey not liked / Harrington more credible than Casey. Get off - jobs for the boys. Montgomorie made a rod for his back when he said a while back that he couldnt leave Harrington out.

As for teh rubbish of great shots / shoot low and blow it - come on. His record in Ryder cup is excellent - he is a fabulous iron player not a tiny bit as erratic as Harrington is and should be there in my opinion.

On current form then Harrington would only go out in singles unless forced to and has a rubish record. He can hit the ball all over the shop and relies on amazing recovery at present. Recovery skills that may not be matched by his poor partner after a Harrington wide.

I was very firmly in the Casey / Donald / Molinari camp - the latter regardless of whether he won that last event.

Still - Poults pick was slaughtered last time and the rest is history so we will see.