Question of the week [Oct. 6-12]: What changes, if any, would you make to the U.S. Ryder Cup qualifying criteria?
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Not much to change here. Perhaps go back to picking just four players as captain's picks. Less pressure on the captain. He has enough to do before the match and plenty to think about with the pairings during the match. Not sure that six automatic picks are enough to be sure it doesn't become a frat boy lineup with the captain's buddies.
Art Williams
Luzerne, Pennsylvania
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Reduce the pressure on the captain by shrinking the number of captain's picks to two or three. The players that finish seventh and eight [on the points list] are automatic selections every time.
Add an alternate to the captain's picks and throw out the insipid envelope. All PGA Tour events have an alternate list, so why shouldn’t the Ryder Cup have at least one alternate?
Dennis Brissette
Heathrow, Florida
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The PGA of America, DP World Tour and European PGA should return to the original format for Ryder Cup qualification. The top 12 qualifiers from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, based on the rankings at the established cutoff point, should be on the teams. Captain's picks should not be allowed. If a player earns the right to play by being one of the top 12 in points, then he should play. It should not be about popularity, playing style, statistics or the buddy system. Earn the right and tee it up.
Rick Garrison
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
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I would eliminate captain’s picks completely. They create too many side stories of favoritism, etc.
With two years to qualify, simply pick the top 12 guys. It would put far more emphasis on playing frequently and playing well. It would create team bonding down the stretch without the inane motivational speakers ushered in by the captain. It would also really focus attention in the closing weeks of the two-year period.
It’s eminently fair — total meritocracy. No drama about “Why wasn’t I picked?" etc. Two years, tee it up, let’s see who’s 1-12.
Vinny Mooney
Poughkeepsie, New York
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First, I would want Paul Azinger to head up a small agreed upon PGA-affiliated group to put together a plan that would address:
a. How a captain is chosen.
b. How the 12 players will be chosen.
c. Seems we have largely been satisfied choosing a new captain for each Ryder Cup event. Detail the process to be followed in putting this event on, here in the U.S. As a glaring example, the course this year wasn't set up to largely address our players' strengths. To me it is critical that 2 to 4 past Cup captains be in on the set up.
d. When Azinger won, the team consisted of 12 individual "groups" — the player, the wife/significant other/the caddie. His team wasn't just a bunch of good players getting together and Zooming and playing in a tournament or two. His was a "culture enhanced" group, in my way of thinking.
Today?, there really isn't much difference in skill sets between the top 12 players in Europe and the top 12 PGA Tour players.
Time to buckle down.
Tom Powers
Bradenton, Florida
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Front: Cameron Young was a captain's pick for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team after finishing 14th in the points two-year points standings.
Photo: Stefano Di Maria / Golffile