Devil Ball Golf 18 for ’15 (Part 8): Who will be U.S. Ryder Cup captain?

Welcome into Part 8 of the 18-part Devil Ball Golf 2015 golf preview, in which we get ready for the year to come in the sport.

The U.S. Ryder Cup team hasn’t won since 2008, when Paul Azinger lead a rather eclectic dozen into Valhalla and stomped all over a European team haplessly captained by Nick Faldo. While Europe is happy to keep on winning, now having taken eight of the last 10 in the biennial series, American fans may well lose interest if the PGA of America and the U.S. players can’t right the ship.

Who’s the man to do that? It appears to be Fred Couples, who has been contacted by the 11-member Ryder Cup task force about taking the job for 2016 at Hazeltine. While the PGA of America has said a captain won’t be named until perhaps mid-year, it seems a clear favorite has emerged.

Now what?

Couples is a proven winner, leading the U.S. regulars to three consecutive wins in the off-year Presidents Cup. Though the International foe is weaker, at least in spirit, than the European opponent, the format is more grueling and doesn’t let a captain hide struggling players.

The 1992 Masters champion isn’t overbearing. He won’t be too intense. Couples wants his guys to feel they’re in a position to succeed and knows no amount of pressure will help.

He can commit the time to do the job right, already playing what amounts to a part-time schedule.

The big question for Couples will be how his team will be selected. Will the task force change how many players automatically qualify? How will they get on the team? How many wild-card picks with Couples have at his disposal and how long will he be able to wait to pick them?

Though 2015 is an off year for the Ryder Cup cycle, the foundation for American success in ’16 will be laid in the ensuing months.

Read all of the Devil Ball Golf 18 for ’15: