MELBOURNE, Australia — Geoff Ogilvy says he finds it “astonishing” PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley missed selection to the United States Presidents Cup team while Tiger Woods received special treatment.
Ogilvy, a key member of the International team to play the U.S. in the biennial teams tournament at Royal Melbourne next month, said via a telephone conference Thursday he was amazed U.S. captain Fred Couples publicly assured Woods of a captains pick weeks before they had to be made.
Couples chose the out-of-form former world No.1 Woods and Tour Championship winner Bill Haas as his two discretionary picks, while Bradley missed out despite winning his major title and the Byron Nelson Championship this year.
“You cant ever say that picking Tiger Woods is a bad selection, but the way he picked him …” Ogilvy said. “I dont agree with the way he picked him, announcing it months early, basically telling the guys who are on the fringe of the US team theres really only going to be one pick.
“Keegan Bradley is the obvious one. Hes won two tournaments this year, one of them being a major, and he hasnt made the team, which is astonishing really that you can do that in a year and not make the team,” he added.
“Im not going to stand up and say Tiger is a horrible pick, but Im going to say its very disappointing that Keegan Bradley doesnt get to play. Thats where Im at with it.”
Bradley may still get a chance to play at Royal Melbourne after tests confirmed Wednesday that U.S. team member Steve Stricker has a herniated disk in his neck.
While it is still to be decided whether Stricker is fit enough to play Nov. 17-20 tournament, Couples has said if Stricker cant play, he would be replaced by Bradley.
Ogilvy said Royal Melbourne — the scene of the International teams only Presidents Cup victory in 1998 — would again provide a definite advantage to the internationals.
“Its a pretty big advantage,” he said. “You wouldnt consider it one of the most difficult golf courses in the world anymore, but its definitely a golf course that rewards local knowledge.”
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