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The task is growing exponentially tougher this year as players
jump ship from the PGA Tour to Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Just ask
U.S. captain Davis Love III.
Love addressed his awkward position on Wednesday while speaking
ahead of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.
"It's just, it's a distraction," Love said. "I did a radio show
the other day and the guys said, ‘What do you think about Talor
Gooch? Do you think he could be a pick or not?' I go, ‘He's not
eligible,' and there was silence. I know he's on the list, but
he's not eligible to play. So yeah, that's tough."
The Presidents Cup is scheduled for Sept. 22-25 at Quail Hollow
Club in Charlotte.
Love said the task of picking players will be tougher on his
counterpart, International team captain Trevor Immelman of South
Africa, than on him. However, the U.S. team will be without
possible selections such as Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau,
Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson.
"I know the guys that are vying for the team now are super
committed to the PGA Tour and are very excited about the
Presidents Cup," Love said. "I'm going to have guys like (Max)
Homa and (Will) Zalatoris that are jacked up about it, to be on
their first team.
"(Homa is a) new guy that's really going to bring some energy to
the team and excitement to the team, I love that about Max. And
there's a bunch of other guys who are in that boat, but Max has
been very out front with it and that's great, that's what we
need."
Love is looking forward to playing with Zalatoris the next two
days in Detroit.
"He's a pretty confident, fun guy, but now I know that I don't
have to worry about Will and I getting along," Love said. "He
knows who I am, I know who he is and that relationship, that
captain-player relationship, you know, he's got my number. I
just need to do that with a couple more guys."
Love has already named two of his assistant captains, Fred
Couples and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson. He was asked if
Tiger Woods might be an option.
"I don't know who my next two assistants will be, we're just
watching guys play right now," Love said. "We have a very good
idea of a short list for me and then for Zach for next year.
Hopefully, maybe even next week we'll announce two more."
The United States has won 11 of the 13 Presidents Cup
competitions and tied another. The U.S. is on an eight-series
winning streak, including the most recent edition, in 2019 at
Melbourne, Australia.
The Presidents Cup matches being held this year were postponed
from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
--Field Level Media
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