Watson calls for US Ryder revamp

Watson thinks the current system results in weak US teams

Former captain Tom Watson has demanded changes to the system used to select the United States' Ryder Cup team after Europe's third consecutive victory.

Watson said the current system does not reward consistency among American players over the course of the season.

"Currently, only the top 10 players from each tournament earn Ryder Cup points," said Watson, who guided the US to victory in 1993 at The Belfry.

"I think the top 10 Americans in each tournament should get points."

The US lost the event at the K Club over the weekend 18½-9½, sparking concerns about the strength of American golf and the method of selection.

Under the current system, the PGA awards Ryder Cup points to American players who finish in the top 10 of majors and US events over a two-year period.

But Watson said that system made it all the more likely that a US player could make the team off the back of a single tournament win.

We got beaten by a much superior team, Former US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman

"In the last few years, international (non-American) players have dominated the top 10, leaving fewer points for Americans to earn to get on the Ryder Cup team," he added.

"A person who wins a tournament pretty much is assured a pretty good shot at getting on the team.

"Before you had to win a couple of tournaments to get on the team."

US captain Tom Lehman reportedly used the system Watson is proposing to help him make his two wildcard picks for the K Club - Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank.

Despite his calls for changes to the selection process, Watson conceded that the 2006 and 2004 European teams had been too strong for US.

"We got beaten by a much superior team, both this year and two years ago - not just a superior team but a much superior team," he said.