“I think Michael is one of the greatest team players,” Couples said Tuesday at the Innisbrook Resort, where he will play this week in the PODS Championship. “Everyone likes him. I certainly do. Being around him, he has told me lots of things that maybe a Ray Floyd or Jack Nicklaus might not.

“As for Robin, I was hoping that we could meet him and have him come. If he comes to the tournament, great, come over and hang out with the guys. I have been on nine teams, this will be the 10th team I’ve been part of. It can get extremely boring. In my opinion, to have someone of that magnitude come in and be funny and entertaining, would be a treat for everyone.”

Fred, who had lobbied for to be a captain for the Ryder Cup in the past, also stated that this met his goal on functioning as a captain.

“This would be enough for me,” Couples said. “This is going to be a tremendous honor for me to be captain. All of the players have been excited. It will be a dream of a lifetime to do that.”

But don’t rule out Fred taking another round as Presidents Cup captain after 2009, particularly if they win and the players respond well to him. It could even have the effect of forcing the PGA to consider him as a Ryder Cup captain, although that, in the unlikely case it would happen, would be down the road.

• Tiger Woods
• Phil Mickelson
• Jim Furyk
• Chad Campbell
• David Toms
• Chris Dimarco
• Vaughn Taylor
• J.J. Henry
• Zach Johnson
• Brett Wetterich
• Stewart Cink (CP)
• Scott Verplank (CP)

In perfect shape after this year’s Masters, Couples failed to make the team on points, and did not play well enough recently to be a factor in Tom Lehman’s decision. The man is however still in the top 50 in the World Rankings, and will play this week in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, a tournament with a high purse and no cut.

Fred has the last tee time of the first round, at 1:30 PM ET. The tournament will be played at Firestone Golf Club, a course that Fred likes a lot. Stay tuned for more coverage.

By Andrew Both
SportsTicker Golf Writer

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CASTLE PINES, Colorado (Ticker) – Tom Lehman has changed his tune and says he will “probably not” play in next month’s Ryder Cup, even if he qualifies for the United States team.

Lehman, who will captain the American side when it meets Europe at the K Club in Ireland, long has said he would consider being a playing captain if he earned an automatic berth on the team by finishing in the top 10 of the standings.

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But he backed off that statement Saturday, admitting he doesn’t feel good enough about his putting to play in the most intense of competitions.

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“Guys who make a difference in the Ryder Cup are guys who can really chip and putt, and that’s been a weakness of my game for several years,” he said after moving into fifth place following the third round of the $5.5 million International tournament.

“So when you say, ‘Would I play?’, probably not, because I’m not putting well. I feel I’d be letting the team down with the putter. I wouldn’t want to deal with that. I would feel really good about making the team, but if I don’t play, I get to pick No. 11.”

Lehman currently is 29th in the standings but will vault into the top 10 if he wins here at Castle Pines on Sunday. That’s not exactly out of the question, because he trailed leader Zach Johnson by only three points after 54 holes in the modified Stableford format.

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His revelation to all but rule himself out of playing will be widely greeted with relief, because captaining the Ryder Cup has become such an all-consuming position that many wondered how Lehman would prepare to play at the same time. It seems he also has realized as much.

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After next week’s PGA Championship, Lehman will make two captain’s picks to complete his team. Reading between the lines, it appears he has ruled out Fred Couples, whose putting has been suspect for some time.

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“At the end of the day, the Ryder Cup is always about chipping and putting,” Lehman said. “One thing will be for certain – the guys I pick will have good short games.”

But he also wants a player who drives the ball straight.

“We’re very, very crooked as a group at the moment,” he said. “I’m looking for somebody who can put it in the fairway, and putt and chip like crazy.”

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Lehman considers the biggest strength of his team to be power, not surprising with a lineup that will be led by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

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“If every hole were a par-5, we’d be unbeatable,” Lehman said. “As a group, we abuse the par-5s. We’re long, and for the most part, very good iron players.”

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Lehman acknowledges he may endure some sleepless nights next weekend finalizing his picks, which he will make after the PGA Championship.

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“Captains have told me the toughest part is making those two picks,” he said. “There are so many players who have poured their heart and soul trying so hard to make the team, and there could be a good reason for picking every one of them who is in the running.”

While it is true that the man played the International last year, Fred’s presence at this tournament is very questionnable this year, especially with the condition of his back at the moment. Fans reported that Couples’ condition was critical in the second round of the British Open, condition that led to a second round 76 (+4) and a missed cut.

It is becoming more and more difficult for Fred to make the Ryder Cup on the points every week. Tom Lehman may pick him as a captain’s choice, but the man will have to play better in the upcoming events. Couples still has a great record at the Ryder Cup and will be a real asset to the team with all the experience he gained throughout the years. However, Fred should try to make the decison process a little easier in his favor by banking a couple of good finishes before the official selection.

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