Millennial Madness As Watson Tabs Hunter, Webb, Keegan

Never again will anyone be able to claim that SNL is the most awkward, tedious thing taped in Rockefeller Center's Studio 8H!

Live television will never be the same again after NBC/Golf Channel's live broadcast of Captain Tom Watson's Ryder Cup picks. Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson were chosen to round out the team of twelve. Interspersed with Omega's hellacious Rory McIlroy "Hall of Fame" ad! What a joy.

Tom Watson's introductory remarks for each pick will be scrutinized, but for now, it sounded like Simpson was picked because of his passion for the Ryder Cup over Chris Kirk, whose comments about keeping his tickets to the Tennessee-Georgia game sounded like a greater priority. Watson gave a speech about golfers for different seasons and that Simpson is a fall golfer. Like I said, let the scrutiny begin!

Incidentally, Simpson placed 5th in the voting here but your first two picks made it.

For Immediate Release, analysis to follow:

NEW YORK (Sept. 2, 2014) – United States Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson selected Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson today to complete the 2014 U.S. Team. The three players join nine other golfers who earned automatic berths on the U.S. Team on Aug. 11, following the 96th PGA Championship.
 
Watson made his picks at NBC’s Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, the home of “Saturday Night Live.” He will guide the U.S. against Europe, Sept. 26-28, in the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course in Perthshire, Scotland.
 
Bradley, the 2011 PGA Champion, will make his second consecutive Ryder Cup appearance. In 2012, he posted a 3-1-0 record in a 14½ to 13½ loss to Europe at Medinah (Illinois) Country Club. Mahan was a member of the 2008 and 2010 Teams, posting a 3-2-3 record. Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open Champion, also was a member of the 2012 U.S. Team at Medinah, finishing with a 2-2-0 record.
 
The U.S. Team will bid to regain possession of the Ryder Cup, which it last won in 2008. Those earning automatic berths on the Team through the U.S. Points System were: Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson. Mickelson will be making his 10th consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, a U.S. Team record for most consecutive and most all-time appearances.
 
European Captain Paul McGinley also announced his three picks earlier today to complete his Team. He selected Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, who join the players who qualified via the Ryder Cup World Points List and the European Ryder Cup Points List: Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.
 
Begun in 1927, the Ryder Cup is the pre-eminent event in golf. The United States owns a 25-12-2 advantage in the biennial competition, although Europe has won five of the past six Ryder Cups. Europe has not lost a “home” Ryder Cup since 1993, when Tom Watson was the U.S. Captain.