Fowler handed Ryder Cup wildcard pick
Davis Love III has named Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and J.B Holmes as his three captain’s picks for the USA Ryder Cup team.
Fowler has experienced a disappointing season by his own standards, posting just two top-10s in his past 12 starts and failing to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship as a result.
But the 27-year-old has been selected on his past pedigree as a winner of the Players Championship and the Deutsche Bank in 2015 and his top-five finishes at all four majors in 2014.
Kuchar is an experienced Ryder Cup campaigner and a seven-time PGA Tour winner. He returns to the US side for the fourth time in his career, having recently won the bronze medal in the men's golf competition at the Rio Olympics.
Holmes, meanwhile, returns to the team for the first time since helping the USA to victory in 2008.
Kuchar and JB Holmes finished joint-fourth at the BMW Championship on Sunday.
"Rickie Fowler is so excited to be on the team again," Love said at a press conference on Monday. "We found no weaknesses in his game, he's such a great team-mate and is really confident on the big stage.
"J.B (Holmes) is so steady, he's easy to pair, has a lot of experience and has been on a winning team in the Ryder Cup in the past.
"I've been on a lot of teams with Matt (Kuchar). He has a great attitude for matchplay, makes a great partner and like J.B is consistent so easy to pair."
Surprisingly, there was no place for two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, while vice-captain Jim Furyk, who made PGA Tour history by shooting a 58 at the Travelers Championship in August, was also overlooked.
Love still has one pick left to make, however, and will complete his line-up following the conclusion of the Tour Championship on September 25.
"These three guys are who we really all wanted," Love added. "We're really confident in them and we're excited to have our 11 players now.
"It has a tough decision and we had plenty of great choices, but I know this is the 11 we want today."
Latest
-
NewsRory McIlroy moving on from missed cuts with new confidence for Open challenge
The Northern Irishman believes he has “figured out” something in his game over the last couple of days.
-
News‘It’s fun in some ways’ – Covid rules mean no Open house-share for Jordan Spieth
Since 2016 Spieth and several good friends and fellow golfers have stayed in the same property with their wives and a personal chef for Open week.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka reveals origin of feud with Bryson DeChambeau ahead of Open
Koepka held court at Royal St George’s on Tuesday.
-
NewsJon Rahm reveals club foot is reason for distinctive short backswing
Rahm, who is the favourite to win the Open Championship this week, says he has “physical limitations” which affect the way he plays all sports.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood hopes to bring the Claret Jug ‘home’ after 29-year absence
The Southport golfer is aiming to become the first English golfer since Nick Faldo in 1992 at Muirfield to win the Open Championship.
-
Dave TindallThe Open Championship: Can Shane Lowry reproduce his Royal Portrush magic?
A look at how past winners have fared when defending the Claret Jug and whether 2019 hero Shane Lowry is a good bet to challenge again.
-
NewsDefending champion Shane Lowry admits the Open ‘bubble’ could work in his favour
Lowry had the Claret Jug in his possession until Monday morning after last year’s Open was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood eager to end blip by winning first major at ‘special’ Open
The 30-year-old believes he is close to recapturing his best form as he prepares for Royal St George’s.
-
Matt CooperThe Sandwich epiphany: Bones Mackay on Phil Mickelson’s linksland learning curve
He lifted the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013, but the seeds of Mickelson’s Open success were sown two years earlier.
-
NewsRory McIlroy wants to learn lessons from poor Open preparation of two years ago
The Northern Irishman never recovered from starting his home Open with a quadruple-bogey eight.