The Final Ryder Cup Four: Who Will Captain Furyk Pick?

The USA Ryder Cup team recently announced its eight automatic qualifiers to tee up in Paris next month (September 26 to October 1).  PGA Championship and three-time major winner Brooks Koepka topped the points list. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Masters champion Patrick Reed, along with Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson round out the lineup for the Red, White and Blue.

Now comes the extraordinarily difficult task for Captain Jim Furyk to name four “Captain’s Choices”. He’ll announce three of his picks on September 4th, one day after the Dell Technologies Championship. The final pick is announced on Sept. 10 after the BMW Championship, just two weeks before matches get underway at Le Golf National in Paris.

Speculation is rampant about who will be in Furyk’s Final Four.

Here are 10 top possibilities:

Tiger Woods–After Tiger’s brilliant final round 64 at the PGA Championship and the consistent elevation of his game, it’ll be difficult, maybe impossible, for Furyk to overlook Woods as a Captain’s Pick. Tiger could serve as an assistant to the captain in a non-playing role, but the entire golf world would be shocked if he’s not picked to play.

Phil Mickelson–Following Phil’s win at the WGC-Mexico Championship in March (his first win in five years), most predicted Mickelson would have a great year and earn a spot as a qualifier. Unfortunately, Lefty has not been consistent and he finished 10th in the latest rankings. But, how do you not pick a Ryder Cup veteran who has won 43 events on the PGA Tour, five majors and finished two spots away from being an automatic qualifier? It will be an extremely tough call for Captain Jim.

Bryson DeChambeau–He finished ninth in the standings only 218 points behind automatic qualifier Webb Simpson. DeChambeau is a favorite by many to be a Captain’s Pick. He’s a confident young player and seems poised to take the world stage at the Ryder Cup.

Xander Schauffele–The PGA Rookie of the Year in 2017, this 24-year old has had an impressive year with second place finishes at the Open Championship and The Players Championship.

Tony Finau–Long off the tee and popular with fellow pros, Finau would be an excellent choice because of his demeanor and lack of ego.

Zach Johnson–He’s played in five Ryder Cups and would be a steady and reliable presence on the team. The two-time major winner posted a 2-1-0 record at Hazeltine in 2016.

Kevin Kisner–Regarded as a gamer, Kisner finished second at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and tied for second at The Open Championship at Carnoustie. He plays well on difficult golf courses and in match play.

Matt Kuchar–A steady veteran, this 40-year old has had four top 10 finishes this year, including ninth place at The Open Championship. He’s competed in Four Ryder Cups and went 2-2-0 at Hazeltine in 2016.

Kyle Stanley–Currently #16 on the PGA Tour money list and World No. 29.

Pat Perez–The fiery Arizonian has had a terrific year and his strong personality and emotion could be helpful to the team. Perez has a bit of the” no fear” attitude of Patrick Reed.