How in the world did Ian Poulter get into the Ryder Cup team?  Yes, he posted a great final round at the Open Championship.  I get it.  But, at that point, he had fallen out of the lead.  Then, so self-assured that he would make the Ryder Cup team as a Captain's Pick, Poulter went ahead and played in the United States at the Deutsche Bank.

Poulter seems to be a great and clutch putter and no one would argue that is not absolutely critical to the Ryder Cup.  But, he has only made the team once before and is 1-1.  Worse still is that he had two top 10s all year - Abu Dhabi and the aforementioned Open Championship.  His last two events have resulted in MCs.

Meanwhile, Darren Clarke - having won twice this year and just two weeks ago - didn't get on the team.

There is a case for Clarke.  He's a veteran and has a 10-7-3 Ryder Cup record.  It's a good record.  The man is considered a great teammate.  How could that be discarded?

I am not really peeved at all about the pick of Casey.  But if the best defense of Poulter's pick is that he was the highest ranked player not to get into the team by qualifying, what kind of case is that?  Is that more of a condemnation of the points system, the World Golf Ranking, or Nick Faldo?

Meanwhile, I think this reaction from Jim Furyk says it all for me:

"I think everyone kind of felt like Darren was going to get the nod," Furyk told reporters after shooting a two-under-par 69 in the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

"All of his team mates and actually our guys respect him. He's a good friend of a bunch of guys over here and I know the guys on their team love him.

"He's great behind the scenes, a good team guy, so I think I'm a little surprised Darren wasn't a pick.

"From a personal perspective, Darren is a friend and I feel badly for him that he's not there," added Furyk, who like the Northern Irishman has played in the last five Ryder Cups.