Captain Kite Has His Game Flying High

Tom Kite’s job as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team would be so much easier if someone not already in the top 10 would only show him a game strong enough to perform in pressure situations.

What keeps making it tougher is someone is doing just that - Kite.

Earlier this year, he said picking himself for the team would be tantamount to hitting a 2-iron over water from a downhill lie.

“Well, now I stuck a tee under the ball,” Kite said Thursday after shooting a 2-under-par 68 in the first round of the PGA Championship. “I haven’t eliminated anybody from the selection process.”

One good round at Winged Foot, though, is no reason to consider a player who, despite winning a U.S. Open and playing on seven Ryder Cup teams, hasn’t won since 1993.

But Kite, despite dealing with the distractions of being captain, has played well this year.

He finished second behind Tiger Woods at the Masters, and tied for 10th at the British Open at Royal Troon last month.

The last U.S. captain to play in the Ryder Cup was Arnold Palmer in 1963.