Kevin Kisner doesn’t sound like the kind of man who thinks he’ll make the Ryder Cup team.
Kisner, 38, was interviewed on Golf.com’s Subpar Podcast with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, and one of the subjects discussed was his omission from the United States team that won at Whistling Straits last year. Although there was substantial public pressure for Kisner, a great putter and match-play contender, to be picked as one of captain Steve Stricker’s six captain’s picks, he finished 18th in points and performed poorly in his two playoff starts.
“I’m not sure, man.” “I assume they don’t like me,” Kisner stated on the podcast. “For the past four years, I’ve received the identical phone call from nearly every captain: ‘Man, you were on the team and then you didn’t play well in the playoffs.’ ‘OK, buddy,’ I say. I’m not sure. I couldn’t care less. It’s too political for me, and I don’t care; I’m not interested in that nonsense. Stricker is my favorite captain, but he didn’t choose me this year, which I understand. In the playoffs, I wasn’t worth an s—-.”
Kisner has a solid match-play resume, albeit much of it was from a few years ago – he went 2-0-1 at the 2017 Presidents Cup, and he won (2019) and finished second (2018) at the WGC-Dell Match Play. Kisner won the Wyndham Championship in August of last year, but he struggled with his ball-striking for much of the year, missing the cut at The Northern Trust and tying for last at the BMW Championship.
Kisner says he’d “love” to be a part of future teams, but it’s not something that keeps him awake at night.
“It’s fine, whatever.” Kisner added, “I don’t really care.” “I enjoy playing team golf, I enjoy representing the United States, and I would love to be a part of any squad.” But even if my career stopped tomorrow, I’d be happy with what I’ve accomplished. I would have said, ‘You’re f—-ing insane,’ if you had told me 15 years ago that you were going to have four victories, play in a Presidents Cup, play in 35 straight majors, or whatever the hell I’ve done.’
“I think what I’ve done is fairly decent.” I’ve got a great foundation, a great family, and I get to do whatever the f—-ing hell I want, so f—- ’em.”