Willett picks a fight
MASTERS champion Danny Willett has turned up the heat on American Ryder Cup rookie Ryan Moore by questioning the wisdom of picking him so late for Hazeltine. American captain Davis Love named the 33-year-old as his final selection just five days out from the contest on the back of his runner-up finish behind Rory McIlroy at the PGA Tour Championship. But Willett, who will also be making his Ryder Cup bow on Friday, believes the whirlwind turnaround will place Moore in a vulnerable position. “You finish well at East Lake on Sunday and all of a sudden, boom, you are in the Ryder Cup,” said Willett. “As great as that is, we were talking about the mental side of that pick. We were saying it must be quite difficult. If you are a rookie, that could be quite a tough one.
“My last whole two months have really been built around the Ryder Cup. Yes, I have been trying to play good golf because I want to win the Order of Merit – but I have been getting prepared physically, getting my game in shape and mentally appreciating what is going to happen and how stressful it is going to be on the body and on the mind.
“It has been about getting in a position where I can go there and try to enjoy what is a very stressful week.”
Love overlooked two-time Major champion Bubba Watson in favour of Moore, right, in the belief he will fit better into the American team dynamic. “Ryan fits so well with what we have place,” said Love.
“He is an easy-going, thoughtful guy, but don’t be fooled, Ryan’s a great match-play player with an incredible match-play record.”
However, Moore is already one down to Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irish star beat him at the fourth play-off hole to take the PGA Tour Championship, the FedEx Cup and the $10million bonus on Sunday night.
“That ranks up there with some of my best performances on the golf course regardless of the tournament,” said in McIlroy, who shot 64 in the final round to take Moore and Kevin Chappell to a play-off.
Love’s decision to announce Moore’s selection live on TV at half-time during an American Football match in a change to the US wildcard system was criticised by Paul Azinger, the last victorious captain of America, as “a terrible idea”.
“I didn’t like that. I thought it was too much sugar. My idea was just to announce the players who were on the team – boom, boom, boom,” said Azinger.
“Announcing the final player, arguably the worst player on the team, on the biggest stage – I just don’t understand it. It should be done five or 10 minutes after the press conference at the end of the Tour Championship and let’s just get ready to rock and roll.”