LONDON (Reuters) - United States will miss
the big-hitting Dustin Johnson in next month's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles
more than former world number one Tiger Woods, according to 1991
European team member Paul Broadhurst.
Woods ruled himself out of a possible wildcard pick because of
poor form and a lack of fitness while fellow American Johnson has
taken a leave of absence from golf in order to deal with "personal
challenges".
The par-72 PGA Centenary course in Scotland, created by 18-times
major winner Jack Nicklaus, measures 7,243 yards in length but the
back nine is not overly long at 3,492 yards.
There are two par-fives on the homeward stretch and two relatively
short par-fours, the 350-yard 11th and 320-yard 14th, and Broadhurst
believes Johnson would have had a field day on the inward nine.
"The U.S. have lost two big players in Tiger and Dustin," the
Englishman told Reuters in an interview.
"The way Tiger's been playing the U.S. will be better off without
him. His Ryder Cup record isn't brilliant but I'm sure he would have
been on their team if he had been fit and his form would have been
half decent.
"I think Dustin's a bigger loss for the Americans because he's such
a powerful player."
Broadhurst said Johnson's absence would be like holders Europe
having to go into the biennial team event without world number one
Rory McIlroy or numbers three, four and five - Henrik Stenson,
Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.
"Gleneagles would have suited Dustin," he explained. "He would have
destroyed the back nine.
"It's a bonus for our team that he's not playing. It's like losing
one of our really top players - you can't afford to do that," added
Broadhurst who was unbeaten in his only Ryder Cup appearance at
Kiawah Island thanks to a fourball win with Ian Woosnam and a
singles victory over Mark O'Meara.
WILDCARD DILEMMA
The 49-year-old, who holds a share of the British Open lowest-round
record after firing a 63 at St Andrews in 1990, says he does not
envy the task Europe captain Paul McGinley's faces on Tuesday when
he chooses his three wildcard selections.
Ryder Cup strongmen Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are
all relying on a pick after failing to make the automatic top nine
qualifying places.
To further complicate matters for the captain, world number 16
Graeme McDowell will drop out of the top nine if Stephen Gallacher
finishes first or second in this week's final counting event, the
Italian Open in Turin.
"Paul's got a tough decision because the three players he's likely to pick
are not in the greatest of form and there are one or two in form that
may miss out," said six-times European Tour winner Broadhurst.
"It all depends on whether he goes for experience or form. If Gallacher
knocks McDowell out of the top nine it will be a difficult thing to pick
two from Poulter, Westwood and Donald.
"G-Mac has been playing pretty good so I'd imagine he will be the first
pick if he misses out," added Broadhurst who was talking to Reuters at
Tony Jacklin's Wentworth Charity Invitational golf event in aid of
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (www.rainbows.co.uk).
"Paul will probably go for Poulter because of his excellent Ryder Cup
record and out of Westwood and Donald, I'd probably opt for Westwood."
Broadhurst wants Gallacher, nephew of former captain Bernard, to make
the final 12 especially as the Scot came desperately close to winning
the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles before losing out in
a playoff.
"I'd like to see Stephen in the team," he explained. "He's a local so
he'll have lots of support.
"He is a strong player at Gleneagles and knows the course really well."
Woods ruled himself out of a possible wildcard pick because of
poor form and a lack of fitness while fellow American Johnson has
taken a leave of absence from golf in order to deal with "personal
challenges".
