Better Get A 747: Captain Furyk Adds Three Players And Three More (Egads) Vice Captains
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We all knew Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were going to be picked for the 2018 Ryder Cup squad on Tuesday. Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge reports.
The real shocker: three more vice captains were added to the two in place. Not only does this add more weight to the flight overseas when you include the cart drivers for the VC's, the WAG's for all and various cart drivers for the cart drivers, but this also declares the end of Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup careers along with David Duval's 2018 Ryder Cup broadcasting work.
I know what you're thinking: five vice captains seems excessive when you add on previously-announced VC's Davis Love and Steve Stricker, while subtracting now-former VC Tiger Woods, who moves to a full time player role.
Consider this:
--There is now one cart driver for every four PGA of America board members who will be lingering dangerously by the lavatories for the flight overseas, eager for an autographs, selfies or stories to tell the folks back home. Zach Johnson is a man who can stop a burly PGA blowhard from interfering with Bryson's sleep!
--One VC for every C-level title at the PGA of America who will, unfortunately, try to share their thoughts on pairings, uniforms, inspiration speech lineups and Heaven knows what else they do in full-fledged hanger-on roles.
--One VC for every two USA players, if you subtract Tiger and Phil, who don't need no stinkin' VC's. After all, they're Task Force VC's for life and likely captains in 2022 and 2024!
--The IFB industry rejoices, as does the golf cart maker charged with creating the custom shuttle-friendly rides that Mssrs. Love, Stricker, Kuchar, Johnson and Duval will tootle around in.
--Sea Island traffic. With three VC's from the greater Sea Island area, look for less time spent trying to turn into The Cloisters for the M-F evening 50% off Happy Hour!
The only real fun in the announcement press conference--embarrassingly light on attendance and questions since everyone knew who was getting picked and there was nothing new to ask--was Tiger's fun dance around the VC discussion over his selection, reports GolfChannel.com's Nick Menta.
Regarding Duval, who has never been given cart keys before after his criticism over Ryder Cup pay, is now seen as a contributor after his 2016 speech at Hazeltine following an on-air tiff with Brandel Chamblee, as reported by John Feinstein.
Menta reports on Duval's belief that he can do more than just shuttle WAG's around Le Golf National and actually influence pairings.
Bryson handled the trio's selfie duties:
