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A22 sports
Thursday 9 November 2017
Column: Continuity in cups could lead to a closed shop

By DOUG FERGUSON “When that (task force)
AP Golf Writer was formed, everything has
Americans finally found the stayed within that group,”
recipe for continuity in the he said. “But that group
Ryder Cup and Presidents eventually will stop doing it.
Cup. I don’t know what the an-
The key now is to avoid a swer is.”
closed shop. Leonard feels that Toms
Jim Furyk is the Ryder Cup should get a close look.
captain for next year’s Toms played on seven na-
matches in Paris, and it will tional teams and was cap-
be the fourth straight team tain of the Junior Presidents
event that he is assigned a Cup this year. He was con-
radio and a cart. He was an sidered a favorite to be
assistant captain the previ- Ryder Cup captain in 2014
ous three cups in South Ko- until former PGA of Amer-
rea, Hazeltine and Liberty ica President Ted Bishop
National. opted for Tom Watson.
Furyk has appointed only After the task force, Love
one assistant so far — Davis was given a second cap-
Love III, who will be involved taincy.
for the sixth time in the last And now it’s getting crowd-
seven years. Love, popular In this Sept. 25, 2012, file photo, USA’s Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III, left, and player Jim Furyk ed. Still in the pipeline are
among the players, was pose with the Ryder Cup trophy during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, at the Medinah Country Stricker, Mickelson and
the Ryder Cup captain in Club in Medinah, Ill. Woods.
2012 and 2016 and an assis- Associated Press In one respect, these are
tant at the Presidents Cup and Fred Couples, how me to work on both. I would matches. He only lost four good problems for the
in 2013, 2015 and 2017. does anyone join the club? have been bummed not out of 12. In the three Ryder Americans to have. More
Steve Stricker was an assis- “We’ll be starting to have to have been at the Presi- Cups he played, the Ameri- than a decade ago, the
tant for three straight years turnover and stuff,” Mickel- dents Cup. Stricker fought cans won two of them. two cups were so discon-
before taking over as Presi- son said. “It’s a good ques- hard for me to join. It was The former British Open nected that anyone who
dents Cup captain at Lib- tion. But we’re only three good to be there with the champion spends most of was a Presidents Cup cap-
erty National. He is a strong years in.” guys. ... And I think it was his time in the broadcast tain hurt his chances of
candidate to be the Ryder The turnover should start in good for them to see me booth these days. He ex- ever becoming a Ryder
Cup captain for 2020 when the next few months, and there.” pects to be in France next Cup captain.
the matches are held at it’s one reason that Furyk is Two names that merit con- year, at the very least for “There was no continuity,”
Whistling Straits in his home more than just a little curi- sideration are Justin Leon- NBC and Golf Channel. He Mickelson said. “The vice
state of Wisconsin. It would ous whom the PGA Tour ard and David Toms. would love to be there as captains didn’t transfer
not be surprising to see him will select as the next Presi- Under this new blueprint, an assistant if the door can over. We weren’t using it ef-
in Paris. dents Cup captain for 2019 they both might seem be opened. fectively. Now we’ve got a
This was all part of the plan. in Australia. like outsiders, and they “Ten years ago, I would nice road map to success.
Among the strategies that Ron Cross, the senior vice shouldn’t be. have thought I’d be a Ry- There’s so much continu-
came out of the Ryder Cup president in charge of the Leonard played on eight der Cup captain,” Leonard ity between the Presidents
Task Force was to choose Presidents Cup, said the teams, and he hit one of said Tuesday. “Sitting here Cup and the Ryder Cup
assistants who either were tour was still in the early the most memorable Ryder today, I don’t think it will that we already have three
past captains or would be stages of the process. Any Cup shots with a 45-foot happen.” pairings set for next year.”
considered as future cap- decision should not be birdie putt on the 17th hole He has not had any contact The American talent is so
tains. It only made sense to expected until early next at Brookline in 1999. with anyone. Leonard also deep that a few new play-
apply the concept to the year. Whoever it is just More than most Americans, wonders if there is room for ers are expected for Paris.
Presidents Cup. might be among the five Leonard has mainly positive newcomers when so much Next on the list is finding
But it led to a question that assistants that go to Paris. memories from the Ryder has been made about the room for new assistants,
made Phil Mickelson pause. “There’s a lot of similarities Cup. His record was 2-4-6, continuity of past captains who might someday have
With such a solid core, between the cups,” Furyk which can be looked at and assistant captains that a chance to be captain for
which includes Tiger Woods said. “It’s been good for two ways. He only won two move from cup to cup. either cup.q

Texas can pay most for Otani, followed by Yankees and Twins

By RONALD BLUM the old posting system for figure signing bonus: Pitts- bonus pool under base- New York Mets ($105,000),
AP Baseball Writer this offseason. The Rangers burgh ($2,266,750), Miami ball’s previous collective Toronto ($50,000), and
NEW YORK (AP) — Texas, can agree to a maximum ($1.74 million) and Seattle bargaining agreement, Cleveland and Colorado
the New York Yankees and $3,535,000 signing bonus ($1,570,500). which did not have a cap: ($10,000 apiece).
Minnesota can pay the from their pool that covers After that comes Phila- Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs If he waits until he is 25 to
most to a young interna- July 2 through next June delphia ($900,000), Mil- and White Sox, Cincinnati, enter MLB, there would be
tional amateur free agent 15, according to figures waukee ($765,000), Ari- Houston, Kansas City, the no restrictions and he likely
as highly touted pitcher- compiled by Major League zona ($731,250), Balti- Los Angeles Dodgers, Oak- would get a deal for more
outfielder Shohei Otani pre- Baseball and obtained by more ($660,000), Boston land, St. Louis, San Diego, than $100 million. MLB has
pares to enter the market, The Associated Press. New ($462,000) and Tampa Bay San Francisco and Wash- warned of severe penalties
and Major League Baseball York can pay $3.25 million ($440,500). ington. Other clubs have if a team attempts to sign
and its Japanese counter- and the Twins $3,245,000. Twelve teams are capped even less available: Detroit Otani to a secret long-term
part have agreed to the Just three other teams at $300,000 as penalties ($159,500), the Los Ange- contract, then announce it
outlines of a deal to keep can give him a seven- for exceeding their signing les Angels ($150,000), the in future years. q