Jay Haas’ Presidents Cup picks net almost half of the winning team’s points
United States Presidents Cup captain Jay Haas picked one-quarter of his team, and those picks repaid him by accounting for almost half of the victorious team’s points.
Haas selected his son Bill, who was 11th in points, and Phil Mickelson, a controversial pick who finished 30th in the points standings, with his initial wild-card picks. When Jim Furyk had to pull out of the event with a wrist bone bruise, Haas went to J.B. Holmes, who finished 12th in points. As it turned out, those selections were brilliant.
J.B. Holmes won 2.5 points, including forming a formidable duo with fellow long-hitter Bubba Watson.
Phil Mickelson didn’t lose any of his four matches, only costing his team a half-point with a Friday miscue over improperly using a second golf ball model while teaming with Zach Johnson against Jason Day and Adam Scott. Mickelson drubbed a hapless Charl Schwartzel in his Sunday singles match by a 5-and-4 count.
Bill Haas clinched the winning point in the anchor match on Sunday, defeating Sangmoon Bae, one of two native-born South Koreans on the team.
Mickelson, who accounted for 3.5 points, said the U.S. loves these weeks, with him considering the team matches his favorites on the calendar. He’s just hoping that he won’t need to get a nod from 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III come next fall at Hazeltine.
“I’m certainly looking forward to next year’s Ryder Cup, as well, and I hope that I don’t put the captain in a position where he has to pick me this time,” he said. “I hope that I will be able to make it on my own.”
Haas was perhaps happiest of all of his teammates afterward, considering he locked up the sixth consecutive American win in the biennial series and the win for his dad, who told his son to “win one for [his] mom.”
“To be in this position and the way it all worked out was a very great moment for me and my dad, and certainly the whole team,” Haas said. “I’m lucky to be a part of this team and to get picked, and I’m just happy I could help the team out with one point there on Sunday. It feels great.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
