Freddie's Dilemma: Haas Or Bradley For Presidents Cup?
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It's been so long since we've had a wealth of riches for an American team, that the decision Fred Couples faces before Tuesday's announcement is actually not a fun one for the Captain.
In Steve Elling's story after the Tour Championship on Bill Haas' win, he included this from asst. captain and proud dad Jay Haas:
There's another huge wrinkle that won't be ironed out until Tuesday night, when U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples announces his last pick for the 12-man team headed to Australia on Nov. 17-20. The complicated part is that Bill's father is the vice-captain.
"I am going to stay out of it," Jay said on the 18th green.
It would mean that two-time winner Keegan Bradley, the lone American to win a major this year, would get passed over because Couples already, and controversially, gave one pick to world No. 50 Tiger Woods. After coming back from his BMW meltdown and the sloppy finish at East Lake on Saturday, father was liking his son's chances.
"I am really proud of him for coming back from that," Jay said, politicking just a little it. "That says a lot about him. I think it's hard to overlook that."
While Haas' win was impressive, David Dusek puts things in perspective with this comment in the SI/golf.com Confidential:
David Dusek, deputy editor, Golf.com: I'd pick Keegan. Haas's win was impressive, especially his up-and-down from the lake in the playoff, but winning a PGA Tour event and then a major beats winning a no-cut, 30-player money grab.
Jim McCabe thinks Haas will get the pick and talks to Keegan Bradley about it.
“If I’m not on the (Presidents Cup) team, I’ll be devastated,” Bradley said late Sunday after closing with a 70 to finish T-11 at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. “But at the same time, I didn’t earn my way onto the team.”
As Bradley talked, he understood what was going on out on the golf course. To many, Bradley was considered the front-runner for the 12th and final pick. A strong performance could only enhance his standing in captain Fred Couples’ eyes and perhaps the biggest thing that could have swayed the decision was a very strong tournament by Bill Haas.
Sure enough, as Bradley spoke his words of discouragement, Haas was pouring the foundation for a stirring victory.
