Ryder Cup 2012: Breaking Down Who Davis Love III Should Pick for Final Squad

No one envies Davis Love III.

The United States' Ryder Cup captain does not have an easy job, and that's possibly the biggest understatement you've read all day. 

Now that the first eight members of Team USA have been finalized for match play at Medinah, Love has until September 4 to pick the final four golfers. Oh, and there's about 10 guys who could conceivably fit into those last spots. 

No pressure. 

Two Locks: Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk

Luckily for Love, the first two captain picks are going to be a lot easier than the last two. 

Stricker, who finished 10th in final Ryder Cup standings, has made 15 of 16 cuts this year, including an impressive seven top-10 finishes. He struggled at The Barclays, but a second-place finish at Bridgestone and a seventh-place finish at the PGA Championship should quell any worries about his recent play. 

Throw in the fact that he's a solid putter—an important attribute in match play—and is a steady veteran, and Stricker is an easy choice.

So is Furyk, who isn't having an overly fantastic season, but has been a part of every U.S. team since 1997. The veteran has done well at every major this year, including a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Open, and simply deserves to be picked on career achievements alone. 

Hunter Mahan

Call this pick reliant on how Mahan does at the Deutsche Bank Championship this upcoming weekend. 

The 30-year-old has two wins on the season, but only two other top 10s, and he's been cut at the last two tournaments, including the PGA Championship. He's shown the ability to be stellar, but the consistency just isn't always there. 

Still, he finished ninth in the Ryder Cup standings, and if he shows he can shake off the recent struggles in Boston, he deserves a spot on the team. 

Dustin Johnson

Johnson's skill and power should be simply too hard to ignore.

Yes, he missed the cut at the U.S. Open and yes, he can sometimes struggle in team match play, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

The 28-year-old has a win and six top-10 finishes this year. He finished ninth at the Open Championship. He is coming off a third-place finish at The Barclays. He is one of the most powerful drivers on tour and his putting has been solid in 2012. 

There's not much to dislike about Johnson, who finished 15th in the standings. A solid performance at the Deutsche Bank should seal his ticket to Medinah. 

Follow @t_keen