When asked a week ago if he wanted to be the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain, Stewart Cink said “heck yeah.” He saw the Americans had lost last month to the Europeans — their ninth loss in the past 12 playings of the event — and Cink said he wanted to “try to get this thing turned around.”
Naturally, another thought also interested him.
“I’d love to represent the United States,” he said.
In a couple months, he will. In a team competition, too.
Wednesday morning, Cink and 11 players were announced for the Skechers World Champions Cup, which will feature three six-man teams (U.S., Europe and International) made up of players from the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions circuit. The Dec. 4-7 event will play six-ball, scotch sixsomes (modified alternate shot) and singles matches at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Fla.
Previously, the playing captains had been announced — Jim Furyk for the Americans; Darren Clarke for Europe; and Mike Weir for the Internationals — and each side will add one player after play at this week’s SAS Championship. As the rosters currently stand, the players have 43 combined major championships across PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions play, along with a combined 86 Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances.
Below is a look at the rosters:
United States:
–Jim Furyk (playing captain): two combined major wins, 16 combined Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances
–Stewart Cink: one major win, nine combined Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances
–Jerry Kelly: two Champions major wins, one Presidents Cup appearance
–Justin Leonard: one major win, eight combined Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances
–Steve Stricker: seven Champions major wins, eight combined Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances
Europe:
–Darren Clarke (playing captain): two combined major wins, five Ryder Cup appearances
–Thomas Bjorn: three Ryder Cup appearances
–Miguel Angel Jimenez: three Champions major wins, four Ryder Cup appearances
–Bernhard Langer: 14 combined major wins, 10 Ryder Cup appearances
–Colin Montgomerie: three Champions major wins, eight Ryder Cup appearances
International:
–Mike Weir (playing captain): one major win, five Presidents Cup appearances
–Steven Alker: one Champions major win
–Angel Cabrera: four combined major wins, four Presidents Cup appearances
–K.J. Choi: one Champions major win, three Presidents Cup appearances
–Y.E. Yang: one major win, two Presidents Cup appearances
The Skechers World Champions Cup was first played two years ago, with the U.S. winning, the Internationals finishing second and the Europeans finishing third. Last year’s event was canceled due to weather.
