Medinah... I thought the last Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor was one of the most amazing sporting events ever. And now we Americans get our revenge. Team USA (listed in order of how well they are playing): Brandt Snedeker - just won the Tour championship and the Fed Ex Cup. That was a nice $11.5m double. He's simply playing fantastic this summer. Jim Furyk - I probably have him too high, but he is playing well. Maybe this Ryder Cup he'll actually help the team. Bubba Watson - The 2012 Masters champ is focused. Dustin Johnson - streaky... long hitter. Has been playing well lately Webb Simpson - 2012 US Open champ is focused. Seems to have come back well recently in the last couple of tourneys. Had a nice 5th place finish today in the Tour Championship. Tiger Woods - passed his prime? It'll be interesting to see who DLIII pairs him with, I suppose Steve Stricker again Zach Johnson - reliable.. needs to be paired with a long hitter. Dustin? Matt Kuchar - great putter Keegan Bradley - another streaky player. Steve Stricker - great putter... gotta pair him with a long hitter. Phil Mickelson - which Phil will show up. Jason Dufner - the emotionless rookie. If I was pairing these guys up: Tiger andStricker Johnson and Johnson Watson and Snedeker Furyk and Bradley Simpson and Kuchar Mickelson and Dufner Team Europe I don't know how all of team Europe has played this year, as they don't all play over here regularly. But that's how I rank them. Rory McIlroy - would expect him to be paired with McDowell Justin Rose - maybe pair him with Poulter Luke Donald - might expect him to be paired with Westwood Sergio Garcia Nicolas Colsaerts Peter Hanson Lee Westwood Martin Kaymer Ian Poulter Paul Lawrie Graeme McDowell Francesco Molinari The fun starts Friday. I'll be humming the NBC Ryder Cup music all week and all weekend. I think you have to say the USA are the favorites playing at home with a course designed to take advantage of their length advantage. I think top to bottom they have the best team as well. But it doesn't always play out that way. The first two days, with the foursomes, four ball, best ball etc etc are crucial. USA have to keep it to within 2 points going into Sunday IMO. It's funny, in cups past you'd say that we have to have Tiger and Phil show up to win. But not this time. This is probably the deepest US team in a very long time (since I've been following this religiously the last few cups). Who do you like?!?!?
US will win easily IMO. Players are playing better ATM. Europe will still be dangerous though. 16 - 12 to US is my prediction
It's the first 18 points that are going to be crucial to this as we look at the first two days and the foursomes and fourballs. The Euros historically a strong in this regard. I was watching the highlights from 2010. Completely forget the first day was rained out and that they adjusted to six matches in the second and third segments instead of four matches in the first four segments. That really favored the Euros because of their inherent strengths in the group stage. Totally forgot it ended on a Monday too.
Of course he's passed his prime. He's 36 years old for goodness sake. He did however go from the mid 30's in the world last year to 2nd right now. I want to see a McIlroy/Woods singles final on Sunday. USA, USA, USA.
yeah, both captains should just agree to that as a final match... be it the first one on Sunday or the last one, just pair them up and lets settle it. Davis was talking about how he wanted to change the rules so that the captains could match up (like the presidents cup) instead of it being blind. It would make for great entertainment.
Putting is the key, and USA finally has a solid 12 putters. But Ryder Cup pressure could impact that. Europe as a "TEAM" is always formidable on our soil or their's and are less stressed historically. I do like USA chances, but Europe's pairings will not be a walkover.
I expect to see them in the final match on Sunday. If the 2 best players in the world aren't batting cleanup for their team, something's wrong.
past history tells us that if one team trails by say 2 points or more, they generally put their best players out early to put the pressure on the other team. Similar to what happened with the US at the last Ryder Cup in Wales. But then that leaves you with Fowler and Mahan (rookies) at the back end. Strategy is so huge in this. Looking ahead to the early foursomes tomorrow, which will be alternate shot. Snedeker / Furyk vs McIlroy / McDowell Bradley / Michelson vs Donald / Garcia Z Johnson / Dufner vs Molinari / Westwood Woods / Stricker vs Poulter / Rose I see that as Davis Love taking some huge risks early. He's got three rookies in a row followed by the Woods / Stricker anchor match. Looks to me like he's saying the rookies will either win this for us or they won't. Last cup, Fowler and Overton were absolutely massive. He's going to find out straight away what these rooks are made of. Then in the afternoon you come back with Kuchar / D Johnson and Watson / Simpson pairings (I'm assuming). Pairing Kuchar and Dustin is going to be interesting. And I'm a little surprised that Matt isn't playing the first session as well, he was very good in 2010 in group play (1 win and 2 draws). Dustin was awful (3 losses). There is no doubt that the Euros are favored in these first couple of days. Garcia/Donald pairing is lethal... so is Poulter/Rose. Frankly, rooting for the US, I'd be happy being down 1 point or less after the first day. Anything more than that and I think you go into the 2nd day in panic mode.
Oh and let me add that the Zach Johnson / Jason Dufner pairing is really really interesting. both guys are generally stoic on the course. I think Dufner could be the MVP once this is all said and done though. He's quite the team guy at Auburn, or so I've heard. The crowd will go bonkers if he shows any form of emotion because he NEVER EVER shows anything while playing as an individual.
Cold, damp, chilly morning....Crowd is quiet....need to get some USA love going.....come on boys, lets pick up the pace.
recorded... watching tonight when I get home from work. Won't check back into this thread until after I've seen it as I have no idea how the day went. I was watching this morning... The first group got to about the 13th hole and McIlroy/McDowell were three up. I think we can go ahead and give that one to the Euros. Disappointing to see Snedeker play so poorly from tee to green. The other three matches were relatively close. But I'm v disappointed in how Woods has played thus far. If I were captain, I'd sit him either in the four balls this afternoon or in the alternate shots tomorrow morning. Maybe THAT would light a fire under his *** because nothing else is. This is assuming Stricker/Woods lost... which I don't know. Even if they won, I'd consider sitting him. Bradley and Dufner were lighting it up though. Encouraging.
And if the cold is ultimately the reason the US lose (which is a poor excuse), but if Davis Love is going to say that then he has nobody to blame but himself. He picked Chicago... at the end of September... there are plenty of courses in the south that he could have chosen. The tour just finished up... most tourneys were in the south. no no... lets pick Chicago because it's a great sports town.
Up 5 to 3 heading into a crucial day 2. But the US were really close to blanking that second session today if not for Coelsarts who was playing out of his mind, shooting a 62. Gotta hand it to Tiger, played very well down the stretch... almost pulled it off... hopefully he can continue on with that momentum. I have no idea how he was able to correct his drives from the first to the second session without any practice. But it's the right move to sit him in the morning alternate shot session now. Furyk/Snedeker are paired up again with McIlroy/McDowell. Snedeker had better wake the hell up. And Furyk is continuing to be a poor Ryder Cup player. The way Watson/Simpson are playing along with Bradley Michelson, you'd expect them to win each of their matches tomorrow. I frankly see no reason why the US can't extend their lead in each session tomorrow. And if they do that, Sunday is going to be a celebration. The back nine of Medinah is incredible. The short holes over water are majestic. Man this is good stuff.
Great start to this morning 4 alternate shot and extending the lead to 8-4....and this afternoon still solid play, US just has some much better putters of the ball then ever before. What a difference that makes. Just roll the rock, and while Woods/Stricker remain winless, losing a tough one yesterday afternoon in 4ball to a RED HOT Coelsarts playing -10 on his own ball is a shame. But if anyone would have said Woods/Stricker would be winless heading into singles sunday, no way you would have said we had such a big lead. Crazy. Love how so many of the USA players are just stepping up and playing wonderfully. And yes the course is beautiful, and no issue with weather...just took some play to get the crowd into it. Love many of the holes and the layout with the risk/reward. 10-6 heading into singles, and not a single tie or 1/2 point in any of the 2 person team matches over the first two days...neat.
10-6... but all the talk is that the Euros have the momentum heading into the singles tomorrow. Having won the last two four ball matches and getting it to 10-6 (instead of say 11-5 or 12-4), sure there is some momentum there. But the Euros didn't win ANY of the first four sessions. And tomorrow the US just need to hold serve. The ball is in their court. up 4, at home. Comebacks can happen, but it's a LOT tougher to do on the road. I'm fairly confident this is over. Love has sent his hottest players out first. Bubba tees off first followed by Simpson. And then Keegan and Phil. Stricker and Woods are anchoring. The way they have been playing, it better be well over before that. Had a feeling about Dufner before this thing started. I think he is going to make the cup clinching putt. We'll see. L. Donald vs. B. Watson 11:03 AM I. Poulter vs. W. Simpson 11:14 AM R. McIlroy vs. K. Bradley 11:25 AM J. Rose vs. P. Mickelson 11:36 AM P. Lawrie vs. B. Snedeker 11:47 AM N. Colsaerts vs. D. Johnson 11:58 AM G. McDowell vs. Z. Johnson 12:09 PM S. Garcia vs. J. Furyk 12:20 PM P. Hanson vs. J. Dufner 12:31 PM L. Westwood vs. M. Kuchar 12:42 PM M. Kaymer vs. S. Stricker 12:53 PM F. Molinari vs. T. Woods 1:04 PM all times central That's 18-10 is what I predict. Not going to predict any ties.
I wonder what the TV ratings are for these things... how they've trended since say '99? To me, it's the greatest thing in golf because you take an individual event and make it a team event and the corresponding dynamic between the team and ultimately the fans is spectacular. There's no mistaking a Tiger or Phil roar at Augusta on a Sunday. But you take that ingredient and multiply it times 12 and it has the power of a nuclear bomb. In football, it's not just the Super Bowl, it's the divisional playoff round and the conference championships... in soccer, it's the World Cup, not just the final game but the entire month (particularly once the knockout stages start).
Just get me 4.5 points in these matches and I will be happy.....young guns heading out early to take charge. Pressure should be huge....what a feeling. P.S. McIlroy overslept? or something, but not on the grounds and late and getting close to missing his tee time. In a Police Escort (not police car as erroneously reported) trying to get to his match on time. Wow. Rory, got his start time confused between Central and Eastern...LOL 1st Singles match is off and on the 1st....and Rory should be on the ondeck circle but not there yet...could be interesting. Just pulled up @ 12:12 EST...LOL....very late and wont have time to hit balls I would wager. Less then 10min to get to 1st tee...hahaha Walter Hagen would have enjoyed it....but booze and broads would have been involved and willingly admitted too.
Europe went out hot and have remained as such.....all tied up 11 pts each and 6 matches remain 3 sides apiece as of now....something has to give to prevent the comeback.
disaster... i blame Davis Love for this... picking Furyk over Mahan/Fowler... picking Stricker... both choked in epic proportions. And I blame Tiger for not doing anything all week. Love should have split Tiger/Stricker up for the four balls yesterday afternoon.
doesn't help that Snedeker also choked.. he can win $10m but not the ryder cup... just goes to show how much pressure these guys are on.
every bounce went their way down the stretch. Seve's presence... huge. Gotta hand it to the Euros for coming from behind in enemy territory. But that is a huge choke job by the US as well.
time to get caught up on the Dolphins game... doubt it will make feel any better it's zero zero with 7:59 left in the 1st quarter...
Great comeback by Europe on US soil too...wow.....lots of folks laid an egg for USA today....had so many chances, and just couldnt drop the putts in the end....great job Europe really. Tighten up pressure job by USA players. bummer. LOL...Tiger's missed putt on 18 was the only halved match all week long...crazy.
You know what upsets me the most? When NBC shows a replay and says, just a moment ago... how about don't say that? Just show the ****ing shot!??! It's like 9 times out of 10 it's going to be a great shot... it just gives it away. Pisses the hell out of me. And yesterday NBC with the technical difficulties for like an hour?
Wow. Talk about an epic meltdown. In a word - embarrassing. Dufner had a pretty good week though. I almost fell out of my chair when he did that fist pump.
Final point totals (W-L-H) * = Singles win D Johnson 3-0-0 * Z. Johnson 3-1-0 * J. Dufner 3-1-0 * K. Bradley 3-1-0 P. Michelson 3-1-0 B. Watson 2-2-0 W. Simpson 2-2-0 M. Kuchar 2-1-0 B. Snedeker 1-2-0 J. Furyk 1-2-0 T. Woods 0-3-1 S. Stricker 0-4-0
I really wanted him to clinch it... imagine how much emotion would have poured out of those veins... I think his head would have literally exploded. or spontaneous combustion. he was starting to choke down the stretch though... the pressure on those guys... unreal. All for a little cup.... The $10m putts are easy. I guess that's what is wrong with the US team. They are used to making the millions... but not used to the pressure. Unless your name is Jim Furyk. He pretty much chokes all the time. Those W/L records you posted are startling. Three out of the four captains picks in the bottom four there. Should have picked Mahan over Furyk. Fowler over Stricker. But he couldn't leave out Snedeker.
That's a tough call. Stricker has a higher world golf ranking than most of the team. Both Mahan and Watney are ranked ahead of Furyk but Furyk is ranked ahead of Fowler. The thing about Furyk is how many times he's faded down the stretch after a good starts late this year. http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps?region=usa I'm also a little disappointed D. Johnson sat out 2 matches. He was on fire during the playoffs. If he keeps improving his pitching and chipping he's going to be tough to beat moving forward.
yeah, good call on Dustin Johnson, he should have been more involved. I wonder who the next captain is going to be? Would love to see Freddie do it again, he was stellar at last year's president's cup. They need someone who is an emotional yet energetic guy... not the last two robots in Pavin and Love. I agree with what Frank Nobilo said last night on the Golf Channel... we need to right a wrong... consider Larry Nelson or Hale Irwin as the next captain. Both are a little old but screw it... or go with Phil Michelson Although I don't like how he asked out of the last match in the group stage. That was a huge mistake to let the players call the shots by Love.
yeah... I don't know... I want someone that will finally jettison us from Furyk... and maybe Stricker. Seems like these Love/Azinger guys want to keep their buddies on the team. I think someone who is older is more likely to pick someone that is younger in those captain picks. The Tiger World Challenge tourney is right around the corner from me.. it starts around the first week in December. Usually Furyk is there... I hope I don't have the urge to boo him when I see him play. By then it should be all forgotten...
