Countdown To The Ryder Cup 2010 Is Closing In.
Wednesday, 25th August, 2010
The countdown to the Ryder Cup is well under way with just one chance left for competition hopefuls to cement a place for the tournament.
Golf aces on both sides of the Atlantic will head into battle at this weekend's competitions in order to amass enough points for automatic qualification, or at least catch the eye of their respective team captains in order to earn a wildcard spot.
The PGA Tour moves to Paramus, New Jersey, between August 26th and 29th, where last year's FedExCup playoff champion Heath Slocum will look to make good contact around the Ridgewood Country Club course in order to hold on to his title.
However, Slocum is well aware that someone else could come from nowhere to snatch victory, much like he did last year.
"I think that there's been a lot of good golf played by a lot of different people. So I think it's going to be definitely very compelling for the playoffs," he said.
"Anybody can win. I think I kind of proved that last year, that anywhere in this field somebody could have that week and come out on top."
With the US team's automatic selections already settled, with Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar having already qualified, the chasing pack will be looking to impress team captain Corey Pavin.
Among that pack is world number one Tiger Woods, who will be looking to shake off his recent bad form in a last ditch attempt to earn a wildcard spot.
Meanwhile, competition from places on the European team has been hotting up so much that Miguel Angel Jimenez has been forced to perform a u-turn on his decision not to take part in the action at Gleneagles this week.
The Spaniard was set to miss the Johnnie Walker Championship in order to attend his nephew's wedding but has decided to play after slipping to ninth on the qualifying list.
His movement on the list can attributed in part to Peter Hanson who moved from 15th to eight with victory at last weekend's Czech Open.
"I am travelling to Gleneagles to try to secure my qualification as you never know what will happen. If I don't it may be difficult for me to be on the team and this may be my last opportunity to play Ryder Cup, so it is even more important to me this year," said Jimenez.
With a current crop of top names currently not in contention for automatic qualification, captain Colin Montgomerie has been left with a selection headache.
The Brit must choose only two from a list of hopefuls which includes Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Edoardo Molinari and Justin Rose.
"This isn't difficult, it's more or less impossible," Montgomerie said.
"It is most unfortunate that I am going to have to leave out world stars. I am going to have to leave out players that feel they can help the European Tour cause."
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