It’s time to try and get in the heads of Presidents Cup captains Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. Both will make their wild-card picks later today for the event, which will take place at Royal Montreal from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30. As for Player’s side, expect him to add young Argentine Andres Romero, who would make a devastating pairing with U.S. Open champion and countryman Angel Cabrera, and Canadian Mike Weir. The left-handed Weir has endured a poor season, but he’s something of a hero in Canada. Combine Weir’s roots with the poor Sunday showing of Stephen Ames (76), who was born in Trinidad and Tobago but has lived in Calgary for more than a decade, and Weir likely will be Player’s second pick.
Woody Austin’s runner-up finish to Tiger yesterday made Nicklaus’ picks fairly predictable. Austin bumped Lucas Glover out of the 10th automatic spot, but Glover’s youth and fire make him a solid pick. Captain Jack’s other choice is a lock in torrid Hunter Mahan. Over the last two months, the 25-year-old Mahan has a win (Travelers Championship), three other top-10s and a tie for 18th at the PGA Championship, making him the hottest U.S. player after Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk.
— Barker Davis
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