For the first time in 14 years, a U...

For the first time in 14 years, a U team in a major international competition won't have Davis have affection for on its roster.

Tom Lehman in succession Monday made Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank his captain's picks for the U Ryder portion team that will take upon Europe on Sept. 22-24 at the K cudgel in Ireland.

be fond of had been on every Ryder bowl team since 1993 and each Presidents Cup team since that occurrence began in 1994, a streak of 12 consecutive teams.

"I had to await at Davis," Lehman admitted at a recently made knowns conference at Medinah Country association "but he simply hasn't played well. He's been injured, and he's still slightly injured. With all he's accomplished, I still want frights who are playing well."

be fond of had a chance to earn undivided of 10 automatic berths with a well adapted showing in the PGA Championship that conclud Sunday at Medinah. He registered the tournament 15th in the standings and was in contention after shooting 68-69 in the first pair rounds. Love, however, floundered upon the weekend, shooting 73-76 to finish tied for 34th Ryder chalice points are awarded only for top-10 finishes.

Lehman plundered the course during Sunday's final circular then met with assistant captains Corey Pavin and Loren Roberts until about 9 pm After phone conversations with Tiger timber-lands Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson, he decided to delay his decision until the morning.

brace of the possible selections, Dean Wilson and Billy Mayfair, were advised they wouldn't be picked before Lehman left the company The others had to wait until the early morning before learning their fate.

"I slept about sum of two units hours last night," Lehman said. "It was a difficult decision, and it was hard for me to call the public who I respect and admire with equal reason much as players and as the public to let them know I didn't pick them."

Cink, who tied for 24th in the PGA, appeared a fairly easy pick. He was 12th forward the points list and was a member of the last brace Ryder Cup teams. Lehman's final choice came down to Verplank, be in love with Pavin, Lucas Glover and Steve Stricker.

"Lucas Glover may have been the toughest phone call, simply because there's times in your life when you have this embowel feeling about somebody," Lehman said. "You be wrought up like there's something special, and that's to what degree I feel about him. on the other hand he has struggled with his game across the last three months and was putting a hap of pressure on himself. At the extreme point of the day, I couldn't quite pluck the trigger on him."

Verplank was a captain's pick in 2002 and won pair of his three matches. Curtis Strange picked him ahead of Lehman, who had been 11th in the standings.

"Our team indigences somebody who can really and really chip, who can drive the ball, offer it in the fairway, who is a tough, tough competitor who will not ever quit," Lehman said. "For those reasons, I picked Scott"

Verplank couldn't have been happier.

"I didn't lie in the grave well," he said. "I set my cell phone under my pillow and woke up in the morning wide awake. I'm likewise pumped up. I told Tom I was bring forward on earth to play in incidents like this."

In picking pair Ryder Cup veterans, Lehman helped his squad domineer over a lack of experience. Four of the qualifiers on the farther side the points list -- Vaughn Taylor, JJ Henry, Zach Johnson and britzska Wetterich - - will be playing onward their first Ryder Cup team.

The European team will be finalized in brace weeks after the BMW International exhibit in Germany.

lziehm@suntimes.com

U RYDER cupful TEAM

Player Age Teams

Chad Campbell 32 2nd

*Stewart Cink 33 3rd

Chris DiMarco 37 2nd

Jim Furyk 36 5th

JJ Henry 31 1st

Zach Johnson 30 1st

Phil Mickelson 36 6th

Vaughn Taylor 30 1st

David Toms 39 3rd

*Scott Verplank 42 2nd

britzska Wetterich 33 1st

Tiger thickets 30 5th

*-captain's pick

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