Details of Tom Watson’s negative captaincy in the 2014 Ryder Cup continue to emerge. According to a report by Golfweek Magazine, Tom Watson told some of the USA team members that he was planning to select Bill Haas as his final captain’s pick, but changed his mind less than 24 hours beforehand to select Webb Simpson.
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Apparently, a plea to be on the team from Webb Simpson changed Watson’s mind last minute, getting him a spot on the team instead of Haas. Simpson texted Watson in the morning of the day the captain’s picks were to be announced, pleading to be on the team according to Golf Channel’s Jason Sobel:
“I thought, I’ve got nothing to lose,” Simpson recounted on Thursday, “So I texted him, something like: ‘I know it’s a really tough decision for you, I know Chris [Kirk] just won and I know Bill [Haas] is playing good, and you even have other options than that. But I really, really, really want to be on the team and I really want to represent the United States. I love this format, and I’ll do anything to be on the team.’”
According to the Golfweek report, Watson didn’t consult any of the USA team members that were automatically qualified before making his captain’s picks. But, he did consult his assistant captains as well as Tiger Woods.
The Americans lost to Europe, 16.5-11.5, at Gleneagles, Scotland, for a third consecutive loss in the biennial matches and the eighth in the last 10 showings.
Webb Simpson didn’t play particularly well. Watson only played him twice. In the first foursome match of the Ryder Cup, Simpson and Bubba Watson lost 5 and 4 to Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose. Simpson didn’t play again until the Sunday singles matches where he halved with Ian Poulter.
Bill Haas hadn’t missed a cut in the 2014 season, during which he posted five top-10s and was in the top 20 in the strokes gained-total category. Simpson had missed six cuts during a season of inconsistent play.
Haas had a 3-5-2 record in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, and Simpson went 2-1 in 2012 in Medinah, Illinois where the last Ryder Cup was held.
Watson clearly had a tough decision to make for the final captain’s selection, but changing your mind because of a text message the morning of doesn’t make anyone happy due to the way Simpson played. Watson continues to be scrutinized for his captaincy.
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