Thursday 22 September 2016 09:11, UK
Former European Ryder Cup skipper Bernard Gallacher believes Bubba Watson will have to play well in Atlanta this week to get the final wild card into the American team.
Even though the Ryder Cup tees-off in just over a week's time, US captain Davis Love still has to finalise his side.
His 12th and final pick will be made immediately after this week's Tour Championship in Georgia, with four pros seemingly chasing the last spot in the team.
In addition to two-time Masters champion Watson, it is widely thought that three other golfers - Justin Thomas, Ryan Moore and Daniel Berger - are all in the running for the fourth and final wildcard.
Although Watson is the current world No 7, his form of late has been mediocre, with his most recent top-six finish being in March.
And Gallacher thinks Watson will be under the most pressure during this week's Tour Championship at East Lake.
"I know he is high in the world rankings, but I think the Americans take the FedEx Cup rankings more seriously," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It's more of a barometer of current form. It seems to me that Davis has said to them all 'go and play your way into the team' and I think he'll pick whoever plays best this week in the Tour Championship."
Never before has any Ryder Cup team left it so late to select their final player.
Two years ago when the match was staged at Gleneagles, all the wildcards were chosen before Billy Horschel won the final two events of the FedEx Cup Play-Offs, which meant the in-form American was not involved.
So following yet another defeat in Scotland, as Europe made it three wins in a row, the PGA of America decided to change the rules regarding team selection.
As for this change, Gallacher added: "It's called the Billy Horschel rule. He won the last two events and also the jackpot $10m but the team had already been picked.
"He was really the guy on form. So the task force decided to change the rules, so this couldn't happen again - we'll keep the last spot just in case someone like Horschel comes through.
"And the players pressurising Bubba - Thomas, Berger and Moore - are all good young players.
"They've not played in the Ryder Cup before, but that won't be a factor because there is currently only one rookie in the side - Brooks Koepka.
"They can well afford another rookie and, despite the fact that Bubba hits the ball a long way, and Hazeltine is going to be a long course, his record in the Ryder Cup is poor and so is his current form.
"So he's the one under most pressure and will have to go out at East Lake and show Davis Love he deserves to be in the team."
The players pressurising Bubba – Thomas, Berger and Moore – are all good young players.
On the subject of Hazeltine being a long course - which should suit the home team more - Gallacher says Europe should not be too concerned.
He went on: "Hazeltine is about 7,600 yards long and Love thinks he has the team of big hitters.
"He will widen the fairways, so Dustin Johnson can hit his 340 yard drives, they'll speeden up the greens, because he'll think the Americans are better on fast greens.
"They'll double cut and double roll the greens, it'll be like glass. And they'll put heavy collars around the greens, because the Americans are used to heavy rough around the putting surfaces.
"He'll do what a home captain is entitled to do - setting up a course to suit his team.
"They did it at Medinah (in 2012) but it backfired. It almost came off but Ian Poulter made sure it didn't."
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