The Open, 2021

[JWags85]

Is Brooks that disliked on Tour? I kind of thought he kept to himself but was reasonably well-liked.

He's not.  He's buddies with DJ.  He's civil with all the top guys.  He's not buddy buddy like Spieth and JT or the vacay crew with Fowler and stuff.  And thats fine.

Honestly, I think the Bryson stuff is blown out of proportion too.  He and Koepka clearly don't get along, but other than that, I don't think he's hated.  People probably roll their eyes and his antics, but he's a decent dude off the course and I'm sure they are all fine.  Its not like Reed.

Also, not sure where this idea of Finau being some intimidating tough guy comes from.  Just cause he's Tongan?  Are you mixing that with Samoan thinking he comes from some huge family of burly rugby players and brawlers?  He's easy going and laid back from all accounts.

[MuggsyB]

He's not.  He's buddies with DJ.  He's civil with all the top guys.  He's not buddy buddy like Spieth and JT or the vacay crew with Fowler and stuff.  And thats fine.

Honestly, I think the Bryson stuff is blown out of proportion too.  He and Koepka clearly don't get along, but other than that, I don't think he's hated.  People probably roll their eyes and his antics, but he's a decent dude off the course and I'm sure they are all fine.  Its not like Reed.

Also, not sure where this idea of Finau being some intimidating tough guy comes from.  Just cause he's Tongan?  Are you mixing that with Samoan thinking he comes from some huge family of burly rugby players and brawlers?  He's easy going and laid back from all accounts.

He's very laid back but if he wanted to he could squash Kopeka or De Charcuterie.  He's a big man with excellent athleticism, not steroid enhanced.  I believe he could easily take then out if neccessary.

As for Brooks' likability?  I don't get that impression.  Tremendous player but my guess is his hubris and overall vibe annoys most of the other players.  I might stick Bryson/Koepka together and tell them to both check themselves and stop acting ridiculously.  It's "overblown" because Koepka is a fake tough guy and Bryon says stupid stuff constantly.  Meanwhile Morikawa is kicking ass and not acting like  a clown.

[Uncle Rico]

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He's not.  He's buddies with DJ.  He's civil with all the top guys.  He's not buddy buddy like Spieth and JT or the vacay crew with Fowler and stuff.  And thats fine.

Honestly, I think the Bryson stuff is blown out of proportion too.  He and Koepka clearly don't get along, but other than that, I don't think he's hated.  People probably roll their eyes and his antics, but he's a decent dude off the course and I'm sure they are all fine.  Its not like Reed.

Also, not sure where this idea of Finau being some intimidating tough guy comes from.  Just cause he's Tongan?  Are you mixing that with Samoan thinking he comes from some huge family of burly rugby players and brawlers?  He's easy going and laid back from all accounts.

Him and DJ don't get along at all anymore

[MuggsyB]

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Him and DJ don't get along at all anymore

That's what I thought. 

[Uncle Rico]

That's what I thought.

From what I've heard/read, they were never close at all but shared a trainer at one time

[JWags85]

He's very laid back but if he wanted to he could squash Kopeka or De Charcuterie.  He's a big man with excellent athleticism, not steroid enhanced.  I believe he could easily take then out if neccessary.

You're just making stuff up. And Finau weighs less than both of them.  Kopeka and Bryson are both 6'-6'1.  Finau is 6'3-6'4.  He's not some hulking behemoth compared to them.  And no idea what "steroid enhanced" has to do with anything.  I'm sure roided up NFL players are easily bested by smaller, all natural people 

You like Finau.  You don't like Brooks or Bryson, thus you've created some bizarre my dad could beat up your dad fantasy.

[MuggsyB]

From what I've heard/read, they were never close at all but shared a trainer at one time

Yup.  We have two great players but because of various reasons it's tough to figure out who to pair them with at the R-Cup.  Again, I would think about pairing them together and telling them to cut the crap and man up.

[MUBurrow]

If I were going to go with a stereotype on Finau, its that he's Mormon so has a very positive attitude and gets along with everyone so would be a good influence on a moody player.

[cheebs09]

Maybe I'm overlooking the team chemistry aspect of this and that's why the Euros perform well in the Ryder Cup. But it's not like you're asking these guys to live together for a few months. It's a business. They can put differences aside for a round or two.

[MuggsyB]

You're just making stuff up. And Finau weighs less than both of them.  Kopeka and Bryson are both 6'-6'1.  Finau is 6'3-6'4.  He's not some hulking behemoth compared to them.  And no idea what "steroid enhanced" has to do with anything.  I'm sure roided up NFL players are easily bested by smaller, all natural people 

You like Finau.  You don't like Brooks or Bryson, thus you've created some bizarre my dad could beat up your dad fantasy.

That's part of it, I do like Finau.  He's  a cool dude.  But I still think he could take them out if of he had to and I don't think my conclusion is based in fantasy.  I think you're underestimating his natural strength and power.  And that's fair, I do not like Kopeka or Bryson other than Ryder Cup time.  That's why they need to get their act together. 

[🏀]

Reed and Finau have no business being captain's picks.

Locks
Morikawa
DJ
Bryson
Brooks
JT
Xander
Spieth
Harris

Stricker Picks
Zalatoris (if heathly)
Scheffler
Berger
Simpson (babysitter)

[MuggsyB]

Reed and Finau have no business being captain's picks.

Locks
Morikawa
DJ
Bryson
Brooks
JT
Xander
Spieth
Harris

Stricker Picks
Zalatoris (if heathly)
Scheffler
Berger
Simpson (babysitter)

I would think Reed is a lock based on his former performances.  Harris English is certainly not a lock but may be a better pick than Finau....I dunno.

[JWags85]

Reed and Finau have no business being captain's picks.

Locks
Morikawa
DJ
Bryson
Brooks
JT
Xander
Spieth
Harris

Stricker Picks
Zalatoris (if heathly)
Scheffler
Berger
Simpson (babysitter)

What?  Reed is basically even with Scheffler and Berger in the FedEx Cup standings, is ranked higher than Zalatoris in every ranking, and while he's a jackass, he's a stone cold killer in singles play.  Reed is 7 wins, 3 losses, and 2 halves in his Ryder Cup career and 2 of those losses were in a bad pairing with him and Tiger in 2018.  He's a super logical Captains pick especially over someone like Scheffler who hasn't won anything.

[Uncle Rico]

Reed and Finau have no business being captain's picks.

Locks
Morikawa
DJ
Bryson
Brooks
JT
Xander
Spieth
Harris

Stricker Picks
Zalatoris (if heathly)
Scheffler
Berger
Simpson (babysitter)

Zalatoris putter 😬

[🏀]

What?  Reed is basically even with Scheffler and Berger in the FedEx Cup standings, is ranked higher than Zalatoris in every ranking, and while he's a jackass, he's a stone cold killer in singles play.  Reed is 7 wins, 3 losses, and 2 halves in his Ryder Cup career and 2 of those losses were in a bad pairing with him and Tiger in 2018.  He's a super logical Captains pick especially over someone like Scheffler who hasn't won anything.

Multiple times caught cheating, brother-in-law punches a fan during the last international team event and his wife's Twitter account. Do the rest of the Americans a favor and leave him home if he doesn't qualify on points.

Anyone using FedEx Cup points as a measuring stick, tough scene. Harris English and Scottie Scheffler have played better golf in majors this year than locks like DJ and Bryson.

I'm sure they'll throw the same guys out there and hope the course setup brings them a win. Euros will be a more interesting and likable team.

[JWags85]

Multiple times caught cheating, brother-in-law punches a fan during the last international team event and his wife's Twitter account. Do the rest of the Americans a favor and leave him home if he doesn't qualify on points.

Anyone using FedEx Cup points as a measuring stick, tough scene. Harris English and Scottie Scheffler have played better golf in majors this year than locks like DJ and Bryson.

I'm sure they'll throw the same guys out there and hope the course setup brings them a win. Euros will be a more interesting and likable team.

None of that diminishes from the fact that he's been a stud in team golf.  Who gives a rip about his wife's Twitter.

And English has finished behind Bryson at the PGA and The British and was trailing him at the US Open until Bryson blew up on the back 9.  Bryson also significantly outperformed him last year in the big tournaments. 

And sure, DJ played bad at the PGA and the Masters, but he has a win and 5 top 10s in the last 3 years of Majors, 3 of those top 10s are runners up.  Sure, write him off over English who was never in contention at the US Open regardless of final score and who didn't finish in the top 20 of the other 4 majors.

Track record of performance is more important for me at the Ryder Cup in deciding team members over someone who has only played well this year.  No mention of no shows at the Players (the 5th major) by Scheffler and English not even playing it (though he hadnt made a cut there in over 5 years)? 

[Lennys Tap]

Multiple times caught cheating, brother-in-law punches a fan during the last international team event and his wife's Twitter account. Do the rest of the Americans a favor and leave him home if he doesn't qualify on points.

Anyone using FedEx Cup points as a measuring stick, tough scene. Harris English and Scottie Scheffler have played better golf in majors this year than locks like DJ and Bryson.

I'm sure they'll throw the same guys out there and hope the course setup brings them a win. Euros will be a more interesting and likable team.

This is a competition, not a popularity contest. What Reed's BIL does or what his wife posts on Twitter are irrelevant. Multiple times caught cheating? He was cleared re the only incident I know of as a professional.

Like the Europeans more? Go ahead and root for them. Free country.

[🏀]

I said DJ and Bryson were locks.

When Justine becomes a storyline she is an issue, bet it happens again.

[🏀]

This is a competition, not a popularity contest. What Reed's BIL does or what his wife posts on Twitter are irrelevant. Multiple times caught cheating? He was cleared re the only incident I know of as a professional.

Like the Europeans more? Go ahead and root for them. Free country.

A caddy punching a fan isn't an issue?

[Uncle Rico]

This is a competition, not a popularity contest. What Reed's BIL does or what his wife posts on Twitter are irrelevant. Multiple times caught cheating? He was cleared re the only incident I know of as a professional.

Like the Europeans more? Go ahead and root for them. Free country.

I'd put Reed on the team but he brings a lot of negative attention to the captain and team.  If you think the team can either rally around that or ignore the noise, fine.  And he's a known cheater going back to his college days 

I'd put Scheffler on the team over Finau at the moment.  What's the difference between the two?  I like Berger, too, because he's a red ass.  Harris English is 10th in the world.  He's a lock for this team

[Uncle Rico]

Here's how Data Golf sees 2021 results overall.  I'm not sure the exact formula but it's a respected model

https://datagolf.com/datagolf-rankings

[MuggsyB]

I'd put Reed on the team but he brings a lot of negative attention to the captain and team.  If you think the team can either rally around that or ignore the noise, fine.  And he's a known cheater going back to his college days 

I'd put Scheffler on the team over Finau at the moment.  What's the difference between the two?  I like Berger, too, because he's a red ass.  Harris English is 10th in the world.  He's a lock for this team

With all due respect Uncle R, Harris English being 10th in the world doesn't make him a lock for this team.  And regardless of Reed's issues, he has been excellent in both the RC and PC.  Reed is way closer to a lock than English and frankly I don't even think it's debatable.

[Uncle Rico]

With all due respect Uncle R, Harris English being 10th in the world doesn't make him a lock for this team.  And regardless of Reed's issues, he has been excellent in both the RC and PC.  Reed is way closer to a lock than English and frankly I don't even think it's debatable.

Harris English has 2 wins, one in January and one in June and finished 3rd at the US Open.  He's legit been one of the top golfers in the world since the return to golf last summer.

[MuggsyB]

Harris English has 2 wins, one in January and one in June and finished 3rd at the US Open.  He's legit been one of the top golfers in the world since the return to golf last summer.

I just think Reed's past success in this format can't be overlooked.  I would be shocked if Harris was chosen in lieu of Reed despite the fact that he's been the better player this season.

[🏀]

Wow.