The Loop

Norman's Presidents Cup conundrum

September 03, 2009

Barring a second-straight playoff win by Heath Slocum, U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples will have captain's picks that, in his own words, will be "nice and easy." Couples backtracked a bit at the PGA Championship saying his picks would be "nice guys," but it has since been reported that he has told Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan they are on the team if there are no last-minute upsets. (Is a win by Slocum at the Deutsche Bank Championship enough to make Couples change his mind? Probably not, but it's the only scenario in which Glover or Mahan would have to sweat their selection Tuesday after the Deutsche Bank Championship.)

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Meanwhile, International captain Greg Norman has been silent on his choices--most likely because they're not so clear cut. One thing is certain, Norman won't pick the hot player, simply because there isn't one--unless he putts a major end run and selects Nationwide Tour player Michael Sim, who was 24th in the Presidents Cup standings, but recently earned a PGA Tour promotion with his third developmental tour win in 2009. That unexpected development notwithstanding, here's a look at the pros and cons of Norman's top candidates in order of their rank in the Cup standings.

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-- John Antonini