Tough decisions ahead for Furyk
Tiger likely earned 1 of 4 Ryder Cup captain’s picks
ST. LOUIS – Now is when it gets interesting for Jim Furyk.
After the finish of the year’s final major, Sunday’s PGA Championship, eight members have unofficially qualified for the United States Ryder Cup team that Furyk will captain in Paris next month. Their names: Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson.
Furyk now has less than a month to announce his four captain’s picks.
Among those resoundingly stating their case over the weekend include Tiger Woods, whose solo second on Sunday very likely cements his place on his seventh career Ryder Cup team. Woods began last week 20th in the U.S. Ryder Cup rankings. “Trending,” he called it.
His sterling performance over the weekend, including a final-round 64, was likely all the convincing Furyk needed.
“I’m just very pleased at what I’ve done so far and now to be a part of the Ryder Cup conversation, going from where I’ve come to now in the last year, it’s been pretty cool,” Woods said after finishing two shots back of Koepka.
Woods didn’t downplay his stunning revival. Asked if last winter, while on the mend after a fourth back operation, he could have ever envisioned a Sunday like this, chasing down a 15th major championship, he responded with a question of his own.
“With what swing?” he said. “I didn’t have a swing at the time. I had no speed. I didn’t have a golf swing.”
He made it clear: He wasn’t sure he’d ever play golf again.
He has his swing back now, and it seems impossible that Furyk leaves him off the team heading to France. Woods is simply playing too well.
The final three spots appear far more unsettled. In the running, heading into the PGA week, included three players who never made it to the weekend: Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Kuchar. All failed to make the cut.
Of those who did make it to the weekend, Zach Johnson finished in a tie for 19th, Xander Shauffele finished in a tie for 35th and Tony Finau settled in a tie for 42nd. Another name to consider: Kevin Kisner, who finished in a tie for 12th after bolting to the lead earlier in the tournament.
Gary Woodland, who entered the PGA Championship just two spots behind Woods in 22nd on the U.S. list, also stated his case, finishing in a tie for sixth, his best finish ever in a major championship. Woodland’s length off the tee, plus a revived putting stroke, could make him an enticing candidate for Furyk to consider.