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Ross Brawns future in Formula One has been the source of much speculation in recent weeks and he has been linked with several jobs at the top of the sport, including Bernie Ecclestones.According to the man himself, the rumours of his new career path are somewhat exaggerated. This week he confirmed that he has been advising the sports new investors Liberty Media about the workings of Formula One, but says his current involvement ends there.Ive given a little advice to Liberty Media on Formula One, because they wanted to have a perspective on the business from someone who has been involved and someone who is not involved in a team anymore, Brawn told ESPN. I didnt have any angles or axes to grind, it was just my view on Formula One and the characters involved and teams etcetera.Could that role evolve into something more when Liberty completes its purchase of Formula One early next year?Its always Libertys decision, but there has been no serious discussion, Brawn says. Ive given them some help to understand Formula One a bit more and they have to complete the transaction and then see what happens. I think they recognise that Bernie is a pretty key element in all of this, because of the relationships, experience and the knowledge, so I think Liberty appear to be a very sensible company and they are going to proceed cautiously.But I hope they take on-board the idea of creating a plan for the future, which is contributed to by a number of elements. What do we want Formula One to look like in three to five years time? Are the criticisms that are made today fair and can they be addressed? Everyone wants to see more racing, but how much more racing do you want to see because you can have too much of a good thing -- it can seriously get boring if its there every week and it never changes.The rumours about Brawn returning to the sport in a rule-making capacity extend back to 2015 when Red Bull boss Christian Horner put the ex-Mercedes team principal forward as a candidate to oversee the changes to the regulations for 2017. Brawn was not a part of those changes in the end, but the idea of a job guiding the direction of the sport via its regulatory body the FIA does hold some appeal.Thats possible. If that became the best channel to influence and be part of a better Formula One then its not out of the question. Its not my natural environment if Im honest, but thats not a criticism of the FIA, its a criticism of me!That may be a possibility for the future, who knows? I think when the dust settles and we see whats going to happen and on what time scale, then we can make better judgements on if I get involved and in what capacity.But Brawn is clear on one thing: if he does return to Formula One, the sport has to be willing to put a long-term plan in place.I think one of the frustrations for me is that there never seemed to be a plan and everything was reactive. Therefore, I think it would be good for Formula One to try to formulate a plan and a strategy of where it wants to be in three years time or five years time.Formula One has a very impressive engine at the moment, but is that the engine for the future and where does that go? Whats going to be the engine in five years time? Is there going to be another engine and do we know what it is? If there is another engine in five years time that process needs to start soon with maybe some slightly different objectives to this engine. This engine right now is incredible, but its quite expensive and makes it difficult for the smaller teams. Can we produce an equally impressive technical challenge but make it more viable for the smaller teams?Its those sorts of things, and if you set those objectives now you wont do it next year, but maybe in three years time or five years time you will succeed. That plan can be adjusted like all plans, but at least start getting down with all the stakeholders -- the broadcasters, the promoters of the circuits, the teams, the media, journalists and the fans to understand what they want to see -- and then build that plan, debate it, structure it and see what comes out.I dont think thats been done yet in Formula One, I think its been more reactive to problems. [For example, we say] the audiences are falling, so wed better change something, change qualifying! and we saw what happened there. It wasnt a great success.And then its Mercedes are dominating, wed better change the rules. Well, perhaps thats a solution, but where do we want Formula One to be in three to five years time? Do we know? Maybe we dont know. But it would seem a better process than waiting to see where we are in three to five years time.Interview conducted by Jennie Gow CARMEL, Ind. -- The idea was sound and made plenty of sense: wait a few weeks to make the captains picks to see if players who did not qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team might get on a roll, turn some heads.With three of Davis Love IIIs four at-large picks looming on Monday morning, it is difficult to imagine the U.S. captain having much clarity at this point.Unless Love has made up his mind on one or more of the picks, regardless of how they played this week at the BMW Championship, those who are in contention for the picks are not making things any easier at Crooked Stick.With the help of vice captains Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk (who is also in the running for a pick) and Tiger Woods, Love is sorting through all the relevant information at this point.There are some things we are looking for, things that Tiger and Tom Lehman have said, look, lets take a look at this, see who is doing this in this group of players, Love said the day after the eight automatic qualifiers became official at the Barclays.I keep saying the statisticians are going to help us with this, but those eight players on our team and the four assistant captains, they are pretty good golfers. They know whats going on. They know the players. They know who they want to play with.But if were looking for one particular reason to choose between two guys, then were going to dive into the stats a little bit more. Are we looking for a great wedge player to match up with this guy? Are we looking for a great driver to match up with another guy?Our alternate-shot is a big part of how we pair, how we pick. So its going to be looking at Hazeltine, how it suits certain players. I think theres going to be two obvious picks and theres going to be two were going to have to waffle about a little bit, and the stats will help us narrow that down.The eight American automatic qualifiers are?Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson.Koepka is the only rookie, so that could give Love some options as far as picking someone new. Love will make his final pick on Sept. 25 after the Tour Championship ends. As the final round unfolds on Sunday, here is a list of potential candidates, how they are faring and what their prospects might be. Keep in mind that a few of these guys might already be part of Loves plans regardless of how they are faring.Bubba Watson, 9th in final points, T-17 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: He is ranked seventh in the world, finished ninth in the points, won at Riviera earlier this year, finished second at Doral and is a long hitter.Negatives: Has not contended since the WGC event at Doral in March. Has a poor Ryder Cup record that includes going 0-3 in singles. His only top-10 in his past 10 events was a tie for eighth at the Olympics.J.B. Holmes, 10th in final points, 3rd at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Long hitter who has top-5s in two major championships this year and was a solid performer in his previous Ryder Cup experience, a U.S. win in 2008.Negatives: In his past five events, he has three missed cuts and hasnt cracked the top 30. Hes trying to make a last-minute impression here.Rickie Fowler, 11th in final points, T-59 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Ranked ninth in the world, teamed well with Jimmy Walker at 2014 Ryder Cup, contended at Barclays.Negatives: Seems like a long time ago that he won in Abu Dhabi; has had two 54-hole leads since. And that Ryder Cup record of 0-3-5 is bizarre.Matt Kuchar, 12th in final points, T-5 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Going back to the Players Championship, has seven top--10 finishes, a consistent performer who has played in three previous Ryder Cups.dddddddddddd. His 63 to win a bronze at the Olympics was a big moment.Negatives: Hasnt won this year and is 4-6-2 overall in the Ryder Cup. He went 1-3 at Gleneagles in 2014, although he did win his singles match.Jim Furyk, 15th in final points, did not qualify for Crooked StickPositives: A respected and solid player who has earned the second-most Ryder Cup points since June, finished second at the U.S. Open and shot 58 at the Travelers Championship. Still finished 15th in points despite playing only 14 tournaments this year due to injury at the start of the season.Negatives: His 10-20-4 Ryder Cup record means he has lost the most matches in U.S. history, considered part of the old guard that has not fared well and didnt make the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.Daniel Berger, 16th in final points, T-12 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Won in Memphis in June, viewed as a young up-and-coming player who could be a future Ryder Cup player. Finished 16th due to missing a good bit of time due to injury.Negatives: Finished fifth at the Travelers Championship, where he held the third-round lead, is ranked 40th in the world with several others in contention ahead of him.Ryan Moore, 20th in points, T-62 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Won the John Deere Classic, has two top-5s in the playoffs, would seemingly be the hot player Love is looking for.Negatives: A veteran player, Moore could manage only 20th in points and has never played in the Ryder Cup.Kevin Na, 22nd in points, T-12 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Despite winning just once on the PGA Tour in his career, viewed as a gritty grinder who might get under the skin of the Europeans with his various quirks and slow-play tendencies. Good iron player and short game, too, plus he had three top-10s in his past seven starts.Negatives: Had a strong start to the season in the fall when the points did not count, then went into a lull before showing some life of late, but unable to crack the top 20 in points. Has never played in the Ryder Cup.Justin Thomas, 25th in points, T-48 at Crooked Stick after 54 holesPositives: Another young, up-and-coming player who might give the U.S. a spark. As a buddy of Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, that friendship has helped him. Won in Malaysia last fall, also when the points didnt count.Negatives: Since winning in Malaysia, has just four top-10s in 24 starts and has not really contended. Does his promising future deserve a pick?So now what? If Love truly had his mind made up on a couple of picks, expect those to be among Fowler, Kuchar and Furyk. Fowler was a member of the Ryder Cup Task Force that helped pick Love in the first place and has made an effort by playing more to get on the team. Furyk is widely respected among U.S players and will be there as a vice captain, too. Kuchar is a veteran who is well-liked and has played well.But should that stuff really matter? Dont results count for something?Love would be well served to take perhaps one of those three players, then look to others who have showed at least some form of late, perhaps Moore or Holmes. And then look outside the box to someone like Berger or Thomas. Experience, especially in the case of the U.S., has proven to be overrated. Look at Patrick Reed, who as a rookie in 2014 proved to be the best performer.One thing is certain: nobody in the running has made such a compelling case that they should be considered an absolute lock. ' ' '