Who or what decides how many picks the EU captain has? Not that it would have made much difference this time around but it might give the captain a little more leeway in picking form guys.
Not sure but the Americans were sick of getting beat and changed their system to 6 qualifiers and 6 picks and it seems to have worked out OK for them!
Officially it's the Ryder Cup committee of each team, but they usually go for what the Captain asks.
IMO there's been huge overreaction to the number of picks allowed. Europe have often had only 2 and never more than 3 and they've been really successful.
I believe that Stricker going for 6 was primarily to make sure Reed couldn't get in, the way he gave out about the captain and vice captains after the Paris defeat. The US picked the Top 10 in their qualifying table anway. So they only really used 2 of the picks to pick Berger instead of Reed, and Scheffler ahead of Webb Simpson.
Poulter deserved his pick ahead of Rose. He has played better this year, was higher in the World points list qualifying table and has a better Ryder Cup record.
He was perhaps unlucky to be paired with Rory, who was completely offform. For Rory to play two fourball matches and break par on only one hole with his own ball over the 2 rounds was just incredible.
Westwood and Casey must have "just missed" a dozen or more putts between them in the 10-15 footer range. That encapsulated Europe. Played quite well tee to green, but didn't hole the putts (although the US ironplay was also better and thus left easier putts).
The guy on NBC during the preview said the US team would be better without Tiger and Phil taking all the attention and without dead wood like Bubba and Kuchar. This was a team of equals and all Top 10 or capable of being Top 10 players. They were just too good. Bryson was really their only one who could cause trouble and Stricker did well to keep him to just 2 of the doubles matches and never in the higher profile first and last games.
