Ryder Cup: Will Bubba Watson Be Picked for Team USA?

When Davis Love announced his first three captain’s picks for Team USA, Bubba Watson was the odd man out. Will we see the two-time major champion at the Ryder Cup?

After weeks and weeks of intrigue, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III went with the chalk for the first three of his four wildcard picks. Despite growing buzz that the American team could use some new blood, the skipper chose veterans J.B. Holmes, Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar to fill out the roster.

All three have Ryder Cup experience and are flexible in terms of pairings. They’re also popular in the clubhouse, which was an important factor in Love’s decision-making process. But the inclusion of Holmes, Fowler and Kuchar came at the expense of one American player in particular: Bubba Watson.

Yes, Bubba Watson, a man with nine PGA Tour wins and two major championships. He outranks the selected players in both categories — the three have a combined zero majors to Watson’s two — and sits higher in the world ranking. He’s also outpaced Holmes and Fowler on the money list this year, so his form hasn’t been too much of an issue

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Ultimately, the reasons for the snub probably run deeper than Watson’s play. He’s seen as a fiercely independent player, one whose quirks on the golf course often take precedent over all else. He went winless in his last Ryder Cup appearance, and while he’s formed successful match play partnerships in the past with guys like Holmes and Webb Simpson, he doesn’t really have a natural mate between the ropes. Bubba is Bubba, and he plays the game on his terms.

Is that an entirely fair assessment? Probably not — but for better or for worse, it’s how he’s viewed by many power brokers in the game of golf. His length and experience are major assets, but when weighed against the other options, Love just wouldn’t bite.

So what does Watson need to do to claim the twelfth and last spot on Team USA? Love will make his final pick after the Tour Championship, so Watson has one more chance to make his case. While the captain certainly has a good idea of who he’ll choose, a top five finish from Bubba would probably tip the scales in his favor.

Of course, he won’t be the only one fighting for a spot on the team. Other notable potential picks in the field at East Lake include Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Kevin Na and Ryan Moore. If any one of those players finds the winner’s circle, you can probably expect to see him at Hazeltine — call it the Horschel effect.

Fortunately for Watson, he’s in pretty good form right now — he’s opened the FedEx Cup playoffs with two top 20s in three starts. Given his experience playing under pressure and his desire to make the team, it wouldn’t be surprising if he makes a serious run at the title next week.

Watson may be a bit of an awkward fit in team match play, but he is nevertheless one of the most decorated American players of the last five years. Unless he falters in the spotlight, expect to hear his name called when Davis Love makes his final pick.

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What do you think: will we see Bubba Watson at the Ryder Cup? Let us know in the comments, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more updates as the matches at Hazeltine approach.

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