Steve Stricker Erred Badly in Picking Scheffler Over Reed

Posted By
Jeff Smith
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6
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker points to TV showing his captain’s picks during the 43rd Ryder Cup Captain’s Picks Press Conference at Whistling Straits on Sept 8, 2021 in Kohler, WI. (Photo by Patrick McDermott via Getty Images)

Because the Ryder Cup was canceled in 2020, the performance of U.S. players were graded and judged over a three-year span (2019-2021). During this time period, Patrick Reed won three PGA Tour titles in elite field events (2019 WGC-Mexico Championship, 2020 Northern Trust and 2021 Farmers Insurance Open).

Scottie Scheffler? 2019 Zip. 2020 Zilch. 2021 Nada.

When Reed left for England to tee it up at The 149th Open Championship, he was ranked No. 9 in the world, and No. 7 in the Ryder Cup standings. Later that month, he would be an alternate for the FOUR-man U.S. Olympic team.

Patrick Reed Ryder Cup
Patrick Reed celebrates on the 18th green after beating Rory McIlroy during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National GC on Oct 2, 2016 in Chaska, MN. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann of PGA of America via Getty Images)

In late July, as Reed was representing the United States in the Olympics, the suggestion of ‘Captain America’ – a Ryder Cup legend – not being one of the 12 U.S. players teeing it up at Whistling Straits would seem absurd.

But then after returning from Japan, Reed came down with COVID pneumonia, and missed the Wyndham, The Northern Trust and the BMW – two places where he’s won (Greensboro and Liberty National) and a third (BMW) with no cut. Translation: a ton of Official World Golf Ranking and Ryder Cup points left on the table.

Yet, despite this, Reed still finished ahead of Scheffler on both lists (OWGR and Ryder Cup standings).

Any other player with that kind of recent world-class performance (2019-2021), who fought back from a near-death illness, would have been a no brainer as a captain’s pick.

Patrick Reed 2016 Ryder Cup
Patrick Reed celebrates on the 18th hole after defeating Rory McIlroy during the Sunday Singles at the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National GC on Oct. 02, 2016 in Chaska, MN. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

When you add in his crazy good Ryder Cup history – including an unblemished 3-0-0 singles record, and ‘Captain America’ persona playing to the home crowd… well then it’s absolutely mind boggling that Reed was slighted.

Yet, because Reed is who he is (i.e. not personally popular), Stricker is being given a pass after his snub of the best U.S. Ryder Cup player of this era.

Yes. Steve Stricker made a huge mistake… by listening to Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas who I’m told lobbied heavily against Reed.

Editor’s note: This post, originally titled ‘Stricker should be fired for picking Scheffler over Reed’, has been updated to reflect reality.

Ryder Cup Steve Stricker Patrick Reed
This is the pick Steve Stricker should have announced, according to Jeff Smith. (PGW Meme)
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6 COMMENTS

  2. So who fires him dumbazz? Sure I’d prefer Reed in the Ryder cup to scheffler but it’s not a huge surprise given Reed’s illness.

    Lighten up.

  4. I still think Stricker should be fired. And to golf’s state run media who are citing Reed’s presidents cup record in 2019? Lol.

    Talk about a reach. Presidents cup is irrelevant.

    Reed is undefeated in singles play in three straight Ryder cups. No one else is. Either side.
    -Jeff

  5. Reed should never have accepted that invitation to enter the Olympics as an alternate. Playing in the extreme heat of Japan, plus the two very long fights to and from, could have been what made him sick. As far as I can tell, those who did go to the Olympics played sub par golf after returning.
  6. WOW..to the person who suggested Reed should not have gone to the Olympics to support his country & therefore it is his fault he fell ill is exactly why we have wokeism . Reed should have been selected for the Ryder cup because of his record & I’m not a Reed fan. I definitely am not a fan of Keopka either & hope he decides to stay home because unlike Reed he has no passion for the Ryder cup & hopefully, Reed will be selected. Speaking of the Ryder cup, I have no passion or interest in that either because too many US players have shown they are unable to work as a team. Their only interest seems to be making sure their “ friends are selected “ if they did not qualify on their own and unfortunately, the team captains seem to let the players run the show. I do hope the story re: Speith & Thomas is wrong & if not, they both had better win their matches or be prepared for the fallout. If they lose AGAIN, I will no longer support the team by watching as i so cannot tolerate same ol, same ol again. By the way, this was the last Solheim cup I’ll ever watch again for the very same reasons !

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