Couples, Janzen Complete Team U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Kite Adds Veterans To Fill Out Squad For Match Against Europeans

Ending months of speculation, Tom Kite named Fred Couples and Lee Janzen to the 1997 United States Ryder Cup team Monday.

Couples and Janzen complete the 12-man team that will face the European team Sept. 26-28 at Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain.

Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert, Mark O’Meara, Scott Hoch and Brad Faxon earned automatic berths by finishing in the top 10 in Ryder Cup points.

It was a difficult selection process for Kite, who as the captain said he was still considering a dozen players, including himself, as late as Sunday. But Kite was swayed by the experience of Couples, a four-time Ryder Cup veteran, and by the recent strong play of Janzen, a 1993 Ryder Cup team member, who finished fourth at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

Janzen finished 15th in Ryder Cup points and Couples finished 17th. But several players who finished higher - such as Tommy Tolles (11th), Steve Jones (12th), Paul Stankowski (14th) and David Duval (16th) - have no Ryder Cup experience. Mark Brooks finished 13th in points, but he has slumped badly, failing to win a tour nament since the PGA last year.

“If I had guys that were a tossup, and one of them had Ryder Cup experience, then I was going to go with the guy that had it,” Kite said.

“When Freddie wants to play, he’s the best. And if you can’t get yourself excited about playing in the Ryder Cup, then there’s something wrong.”

Janzen and Kite were paired Sunday, giving Kite a look at Janzen.

“Lee did a great job,” Kite said. “If he can handle the Europeans the same way, we’ll be OK.”

By leaving himself off, Kite avoided the debate about whether a player-captain could handle both responsibilities. There has not been an American player-captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

“I will admit that I wanted to make the team,” said Kite, who finished 19th in points. “I feel very certain that if I had finished in the top 10, I would have played. But I guess in all sincerity, I didn’t get enough of the captain’s attention.”

The suspense regarding the Ryder Cup selections was the major sidelight to the PGA Championship, which was won by Love. Maggert, showing toughness under pressure, finished third and leaped into the top 10, knocking Tolles off the team.

In 1995, Janzen felt as bad as Tolles did Monday. Janzen believed he should have been a captain’s pick in 1995, but Lanny Wadkins selected Couples and Curtis Strange. Europe triumphed in 1995, 14-1/2 to 13-1/2, and Wadkins was criticized for picking Strange, who had an 0-3 record.

Janzen was elated about returning to Ryder Cup action.

“It might be too early to say if it’s vindication,” said Janzen, winner of the 1993 United States Open. “In ‘95, I had more of a case to be on the team that I did this team. But for some reason, I expected to be picked this time, strange as it may sound. After I received word, it was almost as if I’d won a golf tournament. I wanted to call everybody.”

Couples has not played a full schedule because of the illnesses of his father and his girlfriend. But with a month to sharpen his game, Couples feels he has a chance to peak.

“I have been playing some decent golf, but not great,” he said. “I think I can turn that around very quickly.”

The 12-man European team will be completed early next month. The current top 10: Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood, Ignacio Garrido, Per-Ulrik Johansson, Thomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Martin and Constantino Rocca.