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Task at hand Ryder Cup touchy subject for those on bubble
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Chris DiMarco and David Toms have tried to block it out of their minds. They have tried not to do the math this week. But it has been difficult to escape talk of the Ryder Cup points race heading into the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. "It's hard not to think about it when 20 reporters have asked me about it," Toms said Wednesday. He is in 14th place heading into the final points event in the Ryder Cup's two-year window. The PGA even put out a 2001 Ryder Cup projection sheet that could give DiMarco or Toms a headache. It listed numerous scenarios needed by DiMarco, Joe Durant, Brad Faxon, Toms and Frank Lickliter to bolt into the top 10 and automatically make the team. "The bottom line is we've got a pretty tough golf course out there, and if I'm thinking about the Ryder Cup I'm not going to give myself much of a chance," DiMarco said on the day before the year's final major championship was to get under way. No matter how much those on the bubble try to dismiss it, there is still the pressure of a tournament within a tournament. Nearly a dozen or so players are either trying to hang on to a Ryder Cup roster spot, trying to move into the top 10, or impress Curtis Strange enough to become one of his two captain's picks. Ryder Cup veteran Tom Lehman hasn't played well lately and is clinging to the No. 10 spot -- just 10 points ahead of DiMarco. A win here is worth 300 points. Lehman wasn't in the mood Wednesday to talk about the Ryder Cup, to be played Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England. "This is the PGA, the Ryder Cup comes later," Lehman said. The four U.S. players who have earned enough points to clinch spots heading into the PGA Championship are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Davis Love III. Mark Calcavecchia, Hal Sutton, Scott Hoch, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink and Lehman round out the top 10 heading into the weekend. "The Ryder Cup race is exciting, but it's better to be fourth and not have to deal with it," Love said. "I know those guys at 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sweating it out, but somebody is going to step up and make the team. One guy usually makes a move and then Curtis will have a tough decision Sunday night." That's when Strange will complete his 12-man roster. He said Wednesday too much can happen over the weekend for him to have a short list of at-large picks. "I certainly have my gut feelings, don't get me wrong, but it can really change because there are guys back there playing well," Strange said. "Curtis will either have a couple of tough decisions or he may end up with a layup," said Jeff Sluman, who is within striking distance in 18th place. "If the 11th- and 12th-place guys play well this week then it could fall into his lap." Strange said he has called about 10 possible candidates and told them they are being considered, but has otherwise taken a hands-off approach. He won't follow certain players over the weekend if he misses the cut. "I see the pressure on their faces," Strange said. "I was beside [Scott] Verplank on the practice tee and went up to say hello to David Toms. I don't want them to avoid me, but they're avoiding me a little bit. "It's a very awkward position for some of them to be in and for me to be in too," he added. Strange has plenty of experience already on the team, meaning he could take a chance on two rookie Ryder Cup players for his captain's picks -- players like DiMarco, Toms, Verplank, Sluman or Rocco Mediate. If that's the case, Faxon and Paul Azinger could be out. He said he was looking for talent, heart and guts. "Experience to me only means so much," Strange said. "I would rather have a guy who is young and ready to go, chomping at the bit, versus a guy who has been around for many years who says, `Yeah, this is OK.'" Of those in contention, Toms may be the most unlucky. He has won two PGA Tour events since the last Ryder Cup, but one came the week after the 1999 team was chosen, and the other came the week after the Ryder Cup was played. He got no points for either one. "I would be eager to do it," Toms said. "It would get me closer to some of the best players in the world and play with them in a team concept."
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