The eight automatic slots for the USA Ryder Cup team have been confirmed but captain Jim Furyk still has some tough decisions to make as he contemplates his four potential wildcards. The American captain can name four more players to take on Team Europe in Paris from 28-30 September and Tiger Woods is odds-on to make the team, whilst Brandt Snedeker has emerged as a potential candidate.
Woods is as short as 1/14 to be handed a wildcard following a fine comeback year on the PGA Tour, although his own Ryder Cup record leaves plenty to be desired. Seven Ryder Cup appearances have yielded a disappointing 14.5 points from 33 matches (won 13 - lost 17 - halved 3), with a woeful win percentage rate of 43.94%.
Furyk has an enviable array of riches to call upon though and Snedeker has forced his way into the frame with a fine run of recent form. Following a relatively quiet year, the 37-year-old had hinted that he was on his way back to the top with a run of three top-tens since the start of June and his stunning round of 59 on Thursday - Snedeker became only the 10th player to break 60 on the PGA Tour - set him on his way to a hugely impressive wire-to-wire win at the Wyndham Championship.
Snedeker might be timing his bid for the Ryder Cup team to perfection as he is now 5/1 to be given a wildcard (he was 25/1 before his Wyndham victory!).
Furyk would do well to consider Snedeker as his two Ryder Cup appearances have yielded four points from six matches and it bodes well that he formed a strong partnership with Brooks Koepka in 2016, winning two points from two matches together.
Ryder Cup - American Wildcard Odds
1/14 Woods; 1/8 Mickelson; 4/6 DeChambeau; Evs Kuchar; 7/4 Finau; 5/2 Schauffele; 11/4 Z. Johnson; 5/1 Snedeker
The USA's victory at Hazeltine two years ago was their first Ryder Cup win since 2010 and they will now bid to win on European soil for the first time since 1993.
America's drought in Europe actually coincides with Phil Mickelson making his Ryder Cup debut in 1995 as 'Lefty' has played in every edition since and he is 1/8 to receive a wildcard from Furyk for this year's event. Mickelson's Ryder Cup return of 21.5 points from 45 matches (18-20-7) and a win rate of 47.78% is no more than average.
Matt Kuchar is evens to receive a wildcard, as he did in 2016, and he is another with a relatively poor record from four Ryder Cups. Seven points from 15 matches (6-7-2) and a win rate of 46.67%.
Zach Johnson is 11/4 to be given a wildcard and he has been Mr Consistent during 2018, missing just one cut and racking up ten top-20 finishes. The former Open champion has taken nine points from 17 matches at five Ryder Cups (8-7-2; 52.94%) and he will surely come into consideration.
Alternatively, Furyk could hand debuts to Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele.
It is a difficult decision for the USA captain to make but Snedeker, and possibly Zach Johnson, should come into consideration if they can continue to produce the goods during the FedEx Cup play-offs over the course of the next few weeks. Furyk is due to announce three of his wildcards on 3rd September and then his final pick on 9th September.
