Matt Kuchar Being Named A Vice Captain For The US Ryder Cup Team Means Tony Finau Will Be The Final Pick…Right?

Tiger, Phil, and Bryson are officially named to the US Ryder Cup team, but we have known that for a while, so that wasn’t the biggest story of the Captain’s Pick Press Conference. The most important pick of the night was Matt Kuchar being named a Vice Captain along with David Duval and Zach Johnson. For as long as we have known the three picks tonight, we have heard the rumors that Kuch was going to get the final spot.

Tiger Woods ✔️
Phil Mickelson ✔️
Bryson DeChambeau ✔️

The United States #RyderCup team is almost complete. pic.twitter.com/n5jPXpjjwi

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 4, 2018

Jim Furyk has also added @david59duval, @ZachJohnsonPGA and Matt Kuchar as Vice Captains👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/jZzP5gNkz6

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 4, 2018

If you go back to Royal Birkdale a year ago, you would assume the way Kuchar was playing, he would be a no brainer for the team. Unfortunately for Kuch, the teams aren’t picked a year in advance for a reason, because he has had a lackluster year to say the least. With only 4 Top 10’s on the season, and none coming since his T-9 at the Open Championship, it seems obvious he would be a bigger asset to the team as a Vice Captain, and locker room guy.

This choice by Furyk all but wraps up this US squad, because there is no player who deserves that spot more than Tony Finau. From the time he dislocated his ankle at Augusta, Tony has played his way to the final pick of the US Ryder Cup team. The fact that he finished T-10 at the Masters with that ankle should be good enough reason to make the team let alone the way he has played since then.

Good grief, Tony Finau wrecked his ankle celebrating a hole in one pic.twitter.com/8o7JxVi3xQ

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) April 4, 2018

Racking off 7 Top 10’s since that hole in one, including 3 of those coming at majors, Tony has been playing at an elite level all season. Not only has Tony been playing well all year, but he has been playing exceptionally well as of late with back to back Top 5 finishes. If it wasn’t for Bryson one upping him with back to back wins, he would be the hottest US player looking for a spot.

Great week at @delltechchamp! Ready for @bmwchamps #FedExCup pic.twitter.com/W55s0gceIn

— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) September 4, 2018

If you still think Tony doesn’t deserve the final captain’s pick, then take a look at these numbers and tell me that he isn’t the one of the best players on Tour this year….

Tony Finau is the 2nd player in PGA Tour history to surpass $5M in earnings in a season without a win ($5.177M), joining Jim Furyk in '13-14 ($5.987M).

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) September 3, 2018

Tony Finau joins Dustin Johnson as the only players with double-digit top-ten finishes this season on the PGA Tour.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) September 3, 2018

Without a doubt:

win % vs top 10 players:
Finau: 45%
Bubba: 32%

win % vs top 50 players:
Finau: 57%
Bubba: 42%

win % vs top 100 players:
Finau: 63%
Bubba: 46% https://t.co/PeH2TfnQma

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) August 15, 2018

1st: 🐦
2nd: 🐦
3rd: 🐦
4th: 🐦
5th: 🐦

Tony Finau putting on a show for his playing partner and USA Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/UHaDxaHUUD

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 10, 2018

If Jim can’t officially officially announce it, I can at least officially announce Tony Finau for the final spot on the 2018 Ryder Cup Team…Right?

If Kiz or Xander win this week at the BMW then you guys cannot make fun of me when he doesn’t make the team. Deal? Looking at you @oldtakesexposed…