Could Tom Watson Earn a Spot on the 2010 American Ryder Cup Team?

Have a quick look at the current 2010 Ryder Cup point standings and one name will immediately jump off the page at you: Tom Watson.

Although the 2010 Ryder Cup, which will take place at Celtic Manor in Wales, is still 242 days, 20 hours, and 31 minutes and 12,11,10 seconds away according to the official Ryder Cup countdown, Tom Watson is currently ranked 11th in the point standings.

Yup, that’s right; Old Tom is making a run at the 2010 American Ryder Cup team.

Under the current selection criteria, the top-eight in the final point standings will automatically earn a spot on the 2010 team.  American team captain Corey Pavin will then select the final four players to round out the 12-man squad.

Although Watson will spend most of his time on the Champions Tour in 2010, he has already qualified for the 2010 Masters and the 2010 Open Championship.  There are also a number of highly influential people making a push for Watson to be invited to the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach—the site of his miraculous chip-in on the 17th hole during the final round of the 1982 Open which ultimately led to his two-stroke victory over Jack Nicklaus.

Now, common sense would tell you that Watson’s performance at the 2009 Open Championship was some kind of otherworldly fluke.

After all, the guy is 60 years old.

But here’s a news flash, Old Man Watson can still play and his recent victory over Fred Couples at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii is just another reminder of that fact.

The Ryder Cup points are heavily favored towards those players who perform well at the 2010 majors.  

Whereas one point is awarded for every $1,000 earned during standard PGA Tour events, two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned during the 2010 majors.

Is it too much to ask Watson to make a few more Turnberry-esque runs at the 2010 majors?

Probably.

But Watson has shocked us more than once during his 40 year professional career, and another shock or two could actually land this 60-year-old man on the 2010 American Ryder Cup squad a mere 21 years after his last appearance as a player and 17 years after he captained the victorious 1993 team.

As ridiculous as that sounds, trust me, you couldn’t make this stuff up.