My Ryder Cup Picks

Corey Pavin's announcement is only minutes away, and here are the four players I would pick if I were in his shoes: TIGER WOODS - Still #1, and playing better every week. Always an intimidating name in a lineup, no matter what the Euros say about him. STEWART CINK - Hasn't won since The Open last year, but he has been playing well of late, and he's a good clubhouse presence. He has Top-20 finishes in his last four events, which include a WGC event, a major, and two playoff events. SEAN O'HAIR - Another player who hasn't won this year, but he's been very very close. Six Top-12 finishes in his last 10 events. His MC at the PGA was bothersome, as he seemed to be trending up leading into the tournament, but I still think he has the game to contribute. CHARLEY HOFFMAN - He looked great this week, and he's been playing well leading up to this tournament as well, with three Top-10s in his previous five events. If this win was a one-off he wouldn't have a chance to make the team, but he was trending in the right direction previously as well. Here are a couple of close candidates, and why I decided to leave them out: LUCAS GLOVER - No wins since his US Open at Bethpage last year. This year he has three top-10s and seven MCs. I just can't get fired up about having him on the team. ANTHONY KIM - Nobody is a bigger AK fan than I am, but I just can't do it. One T76 and four MCs since his return. Makes you wonder if he rushed back before he was really ready. I know he'll be heartbroken if he is left out, as he cares about this competition as much as anyone else on the planet. ZACH JOHNSON - One win, at Colonial this spring, but only two finishes better than T21 for the rest of the year. He'd be a steadying influence on a young team, but I just don't think he's playing well enough right now.

Bummer Summer

One of the first new terms I learned when I first came to this country as a 17-year old attending High School in Goddard, KS was "Bummer Summer". I think my buddy Alan was referring to someone who had to work all summer. Well, it's been that kind of a summer for me. I won't get into all the gory details, but it's been a combination of kid stuff and work stuff. On the upside I'm very lucky to have my health and to have the love of my live by my side through these chellenging times. I've still been watching a lot of golf, and practicing and playing a fair amount as well. I just haven't had the peace of mind to sit down and write about it. I'm making an effort to get back into it, as I realize that it's as good for my mind to write as it is for my body to exercise. I'm hoping to be able to catch up with assorted commentaries over the next couple of days. I have enjoyed some of the great play I've seen on tour over the last month and a half. I have also enjoyed some of my best play personally in this time, and I have had some interesting swing revelations in my time on the range. In addition I have had the pleasure of reading a very significant golf book in this period, and I look forward to writing about all these things very shortly. Right now it's Monday afternoon, and I wish everyone a happy Labor Day. The Deutsche Bank is on from Nawton, Mass, and I will be tweeting as I watch the rest of this tournament. I look forward to reconnecting with all my online golf friends. Keep'em in the short stuff.