Ryder Cup: The biggest snubs from the U.S. and European rosters
After sitting on the Ryder Cup bubble pretty much all season, Cabrera-Bello thought he had done enough to make the team by finishing tied for seventh at the Dell Technologies Championship the week before the European picks were announced.
But instead he was left off of the list and the final slot was instead given to his fellow Spanish compadre, Sergio Garcia. This was only surprising because Garcia had one of the worst seasons of his career this year, and the players usually selected are ones that peaking at this point in the year.
Starting with his horrendous showing in the Masters that included a 13 on the first day of the tournament. He proceeded to miss the cut in that tournament and every major after that and then he failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup. Even amid his struggles his experience in the Ryder Cup (played five times in the tournament) ultimately earned him a spot.
Cabrera Bello on the other hand has had a decent season overall. He had a top ten finish at the PGA Championship back in June and he made every major cut prior to that tournament. He also had five other top then finishes other than that event.
Garcia might have played in more Ryder Cups than Rafa, but it is not like he would have been a rookie to the event. Last year when he was on the European roster he was able to help win 2 1/2 points and did not look overwhelmed by the big stage.
Team captain Thomas Bjorn said he felt horrible telling Rafa the bad news,
"“When I picked up the phone to ring Rafa, I felt sick to my stomach because I think the world of the bloke,” he said. “In his mind and his heart, he probably felt like he had done enough and I can’t really argue with that. It turned out to be one of the toughest choices ever.”"
Bjorn knows from experience how difficult it is to be left off of a Ryder Cup team because it happened to him when he was playing on tour at the highest level. This decision could come back to haunt the European team if Sergio’s poor play follows him all the way to Paris. Especially since they left off golfers that have are currently playing better and have been more consistent all year long, like Cabrera Bello.