Charley Hoffman on Ryder Cup Team? Let's End the Madness

In case you haven’t realized, every other September the entire golf world heads off to La La land.

It’s called Ryder Cup fever, and it’s a mental illness that seems to affect the minds of even the most knowledgeable golf fans, writers, and analysts.

Case in point—Charley Hoffman.

Hoffman, who could easily pass for Harry Dunne, had an absolutely spectacular round of golf on Sunday.

The dude posted a final round 62 with a 29 on the back nine.  That’s mind-boggling stuff.  

It was like watching Johnny Miller all over again…only this was no Oakmont and this was no U.S. Open Championship.

In fact, while we’re on the subject of majors, let’s briefly discuss Hoffman’s performance at the 2010 majors…with the operative word being briefly. 

You see, Hoffman didn’t qualify for a single major championship in 2010. 

Hoffman had just four top-10s in 21 events this season and until his Sunday heroics at TPC Boston, he was 61st in the FedEx Cup point standings.

So, if chosen for the Ryder Cup team, how will Hoffman handle a form of pressure that has made more than a few major champions shake in their Foot Joys?

The answer is that we have absolutely no idea.  The 2007 Open Championship was the last time Hoffman made the cut in a major.

In fact, the guy has made the cut in just two major championships over the past five years, and we’re ready to put him on the 2010 Ryder Cup team?

But, following Hoffman’s final round 62 on Sunday, we did precisely what we do every other September after witnessing a single prodigious accomplishment on the golf course: We anointed him with a captain’s pick.  

People…please…let’s get a grip here.

Hoffman had one ridiculously great round of golf in an otherwise below average season.

Paul Goydos shot a 59 earlier this year at the John Deere Classic, why don’t we rescind his assistant captain’s duties and make him a member of the 2010 squad?

Folks, one great round of golf does not mean the second coming of Bobby Jones, and it does not equate to an automatic Ryder Cup pick.

One great round of golf is just that—one great round of golf.

Corey Pavin will announce his four captain’s selections this morning and it’s extremely unlikely that Hoffman’s name will be mentioned.

At this very moment, Pavin is the most powerful man in golf, and it’s not because he possesses four captain’s picks for the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team.  It’s because Pavin holds the power to end this Ryder Cup madness for another two years…which will happen at 10:30am EST…and thank goodness for that.