It’s time Carl Pettersson made his Ryder Cup debut. Barring some crazy situation, European captain Nick Faldo should hand Pettersson one of his two Ryder Cup picks.
The other pick, at this point in time, should go to Ian Poulter. His runner-up finish in the Open Championship and hunger to play in the matches makes him almost a shoe-in for a pick should he not make the team on merit.
If Faldo is looking for form going into the Ryder Cup then he need not look further than Pettersson. The Swede’s win in the Wyndham Championship came just at the right time to make Faldo’s list of possible wild card picks just a bit more complicated.
Poulter, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Nick Dougherty and Darren Clarke with an outside chance all will be in Faldo’s thoughts along with Pettersson.
It’s hard to see how Faldo can ignore Pettersson’s claim to a spot. Even his skewed allegiance should not deter Faldo.
The former North Carolina State player might have been born in Sweden, but he has openly admitted he feels more American than European. Pettersson spent his formative years in the United States and makes his home in Raleigh, N.C. In fact, Pettersson has not played in a European Tour event this year other than the majors and WGC events, which are co-sanctioned with other tours.
Nevertheless, there would be no doubting his commitment to the European cause.
“I know I’m Swedish but I really do feel American,” Pettersson said after his win at Sedgefield Country Club. “Yet my heritage is European. I would love to play on Nick’s team. I know all the European guys on the team. I might be a little different, but I’m going to be playing hard for Europe if I make the team. It’s a team atmosphere and I’ll be playing hard for the team I’m representing.”
Pettersson had a claim for a spot two years ago in Ireland. He had let his European Tour membership lapse and consequently a win and a second place finish on the PGA Tour did not count in the points reckoning.
Then Ian Woosnam overlooked him in favor of Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood. There were suggestions of parochialism on Woosnam’s part, but it was hard to argue with the Welshman’s choice since Clarke and Westwood delivered the goods in Ireland even if Pettersson felt unfairly treated.
Ironically, it could be Clarke who denies Pettersson again. There is no doubt the Northern Irishman is a ready-made partner for Westwood. At this present moment, he doesn’t have as strong a claim as the Swede even though he won earlier this year. Good play over the next couple of weeks could change that dynamic.
Pettersson could still make the European team on merit with a good performance this week in The Barclays. That would solve Faldo’s wild card dilemma.
“I’d like to make the team outright without having to get picked,” Pettersson said. “If I can play well the next two weeks, you never know.”
But even if he plays poorly, Faldo cannot ignore Pettersson right now. He has three PGA Tour wins including his latest success, so he is used to beating American players on U.S. soil. The Ryder Cup is being played in the United States, and Pettersson will feel right at home in Louisville. He will have nothing to fear from any player he goes up against.
There will be a serious steward’s enquiry if things remain the same and Pettersson doesn’t get a wild card pick. He deserves his place.
Posted: 8/19/2008
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