Rumor has it Corey Pavin will lay the smack down if necessary

You certainly know the guy can’t hammer his drives, but he will hammer Jim Gray if he keeps putting his hand’s in the face of Pavin’s wife.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5455788

There is the link.

This all stems from a real news story. The Golf Channel reported that Corey Pavin would give Tiger Woods a captain’s pick for the 2010 Ryder Cup. Pavin claims this report was false and that there are no reserved spots for captain’s picks. If I were Corey Pavin, I would leave Tiger off the team. The USA rolled in 2008 when Tiger was out with a knee injury. That year the boys probably had the us against the world mindset without the, then, reigning US Open champion. However, the same mindset could carry over for this year as well. Tiger is struggling off the course and the Yanks could go out and prove they can win without Tiger, injured or healthy.

In fact, I like the US Ryder Cup team with out Tiger anyway. He is the best golfer in the world, struggling or not. In addition, he is the best match-play golfer in the world. However, in the team setting the Europeans can negate the advantage you gain with Tiger. So long as they match their weakest player, or twosome, against Woods they can let the rest of their team win. You concede the match against Tiger and let your remaining roster best the remaining Americans. It is a brilliant and simple strategy.

Without Tiger, your team is a bit more shallow but, you have the ability to reverse roles a bit. The US no longer has to worry about running alongside Tiger, they can get better matches and simply play better golf. That is how it went in 2008 and I think that is how it will go in 2010.

As for captains picks, I don’t know how I feel about Dustin Johnson. Tiger called him “stupid long” but playing in Europe you need to be able to change your ball flight, not just bomb it down the fairway. Although, Ricky Barnes and Ben Crane wouldn’t be ideal picks either, just going by the highest point getters.

To be honest, outside of the top-eight, the choices for Pavin are pretty slim. Kenny Perry is having an off-year and J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson would only contribute if the Ryder Cup added some long drive contests to the competition schedule. If Sean O’Hair can continue his play from the WGC-Bridgestone he would be a smart pick and I think Stewart Cink could be an interesting darkhorse if he can get into a groove.

Of course I can’t tell you what Corey Pavin is thinking. Nobody can but Mr. Pavin himself. However, I think leaving Tiger off the final roster might be the best choice for the 2010 Captain, unless Tiger surprises us all and lights it up this week to earn some much-needed points.