IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Julius Mason
September 4, 2012 561/624-8444
U.S. RYDER CUP CAPTAIN DAVIS LOVE III PICKS JIM FURYK, DUSTIN JOHNSON,
BRANDT SNEDEKER AND STEVE STRICKER TO COMPLETE 2012 TEAM
39th Ryder Cup to be held Sept. 28-30, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club
NEW YORK – United States Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III selected Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker today to complete the 12-player roster for the 2012 United States Ryder Cup Team. The foursome, which features three players with Ryder Cup experience, join eight golfers who had earned automatic berths Aug. 12, following the 94th PGA Championship.
Love announced his selections at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square, just blocks from where The PGA of America was founded in 1916. He will guide the U.S. against Europe, Sept. 28-30, in the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.
The 2012 U.S. Team has an overall Ryder Cup record of 41-59-16.
Furyk will be making his eighth straight trip to golf’s pre-eminent event, tying him for second all-time in appearances among U.S. Ryder Cup players. He has an 8-15-4 overall Ryder Cup record. Stricker will be making his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, with a record of 3-3-1, while Johnson is making his second straight Ryder Cup appearance, and was 1-3-0, while competing in 2010 at the Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales. Snedeker joins Jason Dufner, 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley and reigning U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson in making their Ryder Cup debuts.
Love, the 27th U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, said that he wanted to blend experience and players “who were the hottest” coming into the Ryder Cup.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am that these four guys are going to round out our Ryder Cup Team,” said Love. “I think we have a great team, extremely deep this time, deeper than we’ve ever been. We are looking for pairings, to plug some holes, to add some experience, and add some putters. These guys all fill those roles perfectly.”
European Captain Jose' Mari'a Olazaba'l completed his Team on Aug. 27. The European Team features one rookie, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, and 11 players who have an overall Ryder Cup record of 61-31-18.
The U.S. Team bids to regain possession of the Ryder Cup, which it last won in 2008. The U.S. players earning automatic bids are led by world No. 3-ranked Tiger Woods, who is joined in order of their finish in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings by Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson will be making his ninth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, which sets the U.S. Team record for most consecutive appearances, and most all-time appearances.
Begun in 1927, The Ryder Cup is among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward. The United States owns a 25-11-2 advantage in the biennial competition.
FINAL 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup Point Standings
Place/Player Points Years/Ryder Cup Record
Top 8 Positions Earn Automatic Berths
1 Tiger Woods 6,014.184 1997, ’99, 2002 13-14-2
’04, ’06, ’10
2 Bubba Watson 5,815.054 2010 1-3-0
3 Jason Dufner 5,697.302 Debut ---
4 Keegan Bradley 5,551.206 Debut ---
5 Webb Simpson 4,635.501 Debut ---
6 Zach Johnson 4,491.545 2006, ’10 3-3-1
7. Matt Kuchar 4,448.942 2010 1-1-2
8 Phil Mickelson 4,233.108 1995, ’97, ’99, 2002 11-17-6
’04, ’06, ’08, ’10
Captain’s Selections
10. Steve Stricker 4,015.070 2008, ’10 3-3-1
11. Jim Furyk 3,369.616 1997, ’99, 2002, ’04, 8-15-4
’06, ’08, ‘10
13. Brandt Snedeker 3,176.787 Debut ---
15. Dustin Johnson 3,040.020 2010 1-3-0
2012 EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM
Player Years/Ryder Cup Record
Luke Donald 2004, ’06, ’10 8-2-1
Sergio Garcia 1999, 2002, ’04, ’06, ’08 14-6-4
Peter Hanson 2010 1-2-0
Martin Kaymer 2010 2-1-1
Paul Lawrie 1999 3-1-1
Graeme McDowell 2008, ’10 4-2-2
Rory McIlroy 2010 1-1-2
Francesco Molinari 2010 0-2-1
Justin Rose 2008 3-1-0
Lee Westwood 1997, ’99, 2002, ’04, ’06, ’08, ’10 16-11-6
Captain’s Selections:
Ian Poulter 2004, ’08, ’10 9-2-0
Nicolas Colsaerts Debut ---
The Ryder Cup is one of the most spirited, exciting and compelling events in sport—covering nearly 85 years, involving the greatest players in the world and producing some of the greatest moments in the game.
This September, the U.S. will attempt to win back the Ryder Cup, which it relinquished in 2010, following Europe’s 14½ to 13½ victory in Wales. The U.S. last won a Ryder Cup in 2008 after a 15-11 victory at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: toestablish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
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