Golf
USA Ryder Cup takes shape
2010-08-16 08:27
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Kohler - Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson played their way onto the USA Ryder Cup team with superb performances at the 92nd PGA Championship.
Watson, who lost a playoff to Germany's Martin Kaymer, and Johnson will be joined by Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar on the American team which will defend the Ryder Cup October 1 in Wales.
This will be the first Ryder Cup appearance for both Watson and Johnson.
PGA Championship runner-up Watson said making the Ryder Cup team was a bigger thrill than if he had won the final major championship of the season.
"I made The Ryder Cup, so that's all I care about," said Watson. "I've wanted to play the Ryder Cup my whole life. I've made many a putt when I was eight and ten years old to win The Ryder Cup."
Johnson can take solace in his appointment after being knocked out of the playoff with Watson and Kaymer when he was slapped with a two-stroke penalty on No 18 for grounding his club in a bunker.
He didn't make it to the playoff but his fifth place finish at Whistling Straits was still enough to vault him into one of the top eight automatic picks for the Ryder Cup.
Tiger Woods did not make the automatic list for the Ryder Cup and now must rely on team captain Corey Pavin to add him when Pavin makes his four remaining picks in three weeks.
Woods said on Sunday he expects to be in contact with Pavin shortly.
"Hopefully Corey will pick me on the team," Woods said. "Corey texts me a lot so, I'm sure he'll be texting me or calling me and I'm sure we'll be talking. We still have what, two more weeks, right? Three more weeks?"