- Publish date:
Bubble Boys
The Aug. 12-15 PGA Championship is the last chance for players to
earn qualifying points for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The first
seven players are a virtual lock: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson,
Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, David Toms and Chad
Campbell. The last three spots, as well as Hal Sutton's two
captain's picks, are up for grabs. Here's a look at the players
who are on the bubble, the intangibles they bring and their odds
of making the team.
PLAYER (CURRENT STANDING)
INTANGIBLE
ODDS
FRED FUNK (8th)
Extra security (he majored in law enforcement at Maryland)
Even
STEVE FLESCH (9th)
Guarantees team will make history: first with two lefties
Even
JEFF MAGGERT (10th)
Keebler-elf-like appearance comforting to teammates
2 to 1
JERRY KELLY (11th)
Former hockey player invaluable if they drop the, um, glove
2 to 1
SCOTT VERPLANK (12th)
Diabetic who plays wearing an insulin pump; they don't get much
tougher than that
5 to 1
JAY HAAS (13th)
Old enough to have met Samuel Ryder
3 to 1
TODD HAMILTON (15th)
He was good on Letterman
15 to 1
CHARLES HOWELL (20th)
Good buddies with Tiger
20 to 1
JOHN DALY (26th)
Nothing says America like long bombs, multiple wives and a
troubled past
100 to 1
COLOR PHOTO: SIMON BRUTY (FUNK)
TWO COLOR PHOTOS: DAVID BERGMAN (FLESCH, KELLY)
COLOR PHOTO: ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA (MAGGERT)
COLOR PHOTO: ROB TRINGALI/SPORTSCHROME (VERPLANK)
COLOR PHOTO: JIM GUND (HAAS)
COLOR PHOTO: FRED VUICH (HAMILTON)
TWO COLOR PHOTOS: DARREN CARROLL (HOWELL, DALY)
