I just thought i would start a Ryder Cup preview before the big event starts this weekend... Put a few links up as well... http://rydercup.com Team USA This years team has 4 rookies in Bradley, Dufner, Simpson and Snedeker and this will be nothing that they have ever felt before. Obviously the big hitters are in again, Phil, Tiger and Furyk plus a few with only a couple of Cup events under their belts. So Davis Love is going to have to pair up very well to get the best out of the 'new boys' and make sure the experienced lads bring their know how to the party... Keegan Bradley... Years Played: First appearance Total Matches: 0 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Total Points Won: 0 Total Points Won Point %: 0% Jason Duffner... Years Played: First appearance Total Matches: 0 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Total Points Won: 0 Total Points Won Point %: 0% Jim Furyk... Years Played: 1997-99-2002-04-06-08-10 Total Matches: 27 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 8-15-4 Singles (W-L-H): 4-2-1 Foursomes (W-L-H): 3-5-2 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-8-1 Total Points Won: 10 Total Points Won Point %: .37 Dustin Johnson... Years Played: 2010 Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 1-3-0 Singles (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-2-0 Total Points Won: 1 Total Points Won Point %: .25 Zach Johnson Years Played: 2006, 2010 Total Matches: 7 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 3-3-1 Singles (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-2-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Total Points Won: 3 1/2 Total Points Won Point %: .50 Matt Kuchar... Years Played: 2010 Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 1-1-2 Singles (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-2 Total Points Won: 2 Total Points Won Point %: .50 Phil Mickelson... Years Played: 1995-97-99-2002-04-06-08-10 Total Matches: 34 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 11-17-6 Singles (W-L-H): 4-4-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 2-5-4 Fourballs (W-L-H): 5-8-2 Total Points Won: 14 Total Points Won Point %: .41 Brandt Snedeker... Years Played: First appearance Total Matches: 0 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Total Points Won: 0 Total Points Won Point %: 0% Webb Simpson... Years Played: First appearance Total Matches: 0 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-0 Total Points Won: 0 Total Points Won Point %: 0% Steve Striker... Years Played: 2008, 2010 Total Matches: 7 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 3-3-1 Singles (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-1-1 Total Points Won: 3.5 Total Points Won Point %: .50 Bubba Watson... Years Played: 2010 Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 1-3-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Total Points Won: 1 Total Points Won Point %: .33 Tiger Woods... Years Played: 1997-99-2002-04-06-10 Total Matches: 29 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 13-14-2 Singles (W-L-H): 4-1-1 Foursomes (W-L-H): 4-7-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 5-6-0 Total Points Won: 14 Total Points Won Point %: .48
On paper, Team Europe has the stronger squad in terms of experience, with only Colsaerts - making his debut, Lawrie, last played in 1999 and Rose - only his 2nd Ryder Cup, not to have tasted success in winning the Ryder Cup. This could be the big advantage in this years tournament. Jose Olazabal is arguably the most experienced person at the Ryder Cup this year plus he knows what its like to win over in America.. Team Europe... Nicolaus Colsaerts... Years Played: Debut Total Matches: - Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): - Singles (W-L-H): - Foursomes (W-L-H): - Fourballs (W-L-H): - Total Points Won: - Total Points Won Point %: - Luke Donald... Years Played: 2004 (winners), 06 (winners), 10 (winners) Total Matches: 11 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 8-2-1 Singles (W-L-H): 2-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 6-0-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-1-1 Total Points Won: 8 1/2 Total Points Won Point %: 77 Sergio Garcia... Years Played: 1999, 02 (winners), 04 (winners), 06 (winners), 08 Total Matches: 24 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 14-6-4 Singles (W-L-H): 1-4-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 8-0-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 5-2-3 Total Points Won: 16 Total Points Won Point %: 66.6 Peter Hanson... Years Played: 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 3 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 1-2-0 Singles (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Total Points Won: 1 Total Points Won Point %: 33.3 Martin Kaymer... Years Played: 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 2-1-1 Singles (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-0-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 2-0-0 Total Points Won: 2 1/2 Total Points Won Point %: 62.5 Paul Lawrie... Years Played: 1999 Total Matches: 5 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 3-1-1 Singles (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-0-1 Total Points Won: 3 1/2 Total Points Won Point %: 70 Graeme McDowell... Years Played: 2008, 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 8 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 4-2-2 Singles (W-L-H): 2-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-1-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-1-1 Total Points Won: 5 Total Points Won Point %: 62.5 Rory McIlroy... Years Played: 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 1-1-2 Singles (W-L-H): 0-0-1 Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-1 Total Points Won: 2 Total Points Won Point %: 50 Francesco Molinari... Years Played: 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 3 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 0-2-1 Singles (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 0-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 0-0-1 Total Points Won: 1/2 Total Points Won Point %: 16.6 Ian Poulter... Years Played: 2004 (winners), 2008, 2010 (winners) Total Matches: 11 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 8-3-0 Singles (W-L-H): 3-0-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 2-1-0 Fourballs (W-L-H): 3-2-0 Total Points Won: 8 Total Points Won Point %: 72.7 Justin Rose... Years Played: 2008 Total Matches: 4 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 3-1-0 Singles (W-L-H): 1-1-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 2-1-1 Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-0-0 Total Points Won: 3 Total Points Won Point %: 75 Lee Westwood... Years Played: 1997 (winners), 99, 02 (winners), 04 (winners), 06 (winners), 08, 10 (winners) Total Matches: 33 Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 16-11-6 Singles (W-L-H): 2-5-0 Foursomes (W-L-H): 7-2-4 Fourballs (W-L-H): 7-4-2 Total Points Won: 19 Total Points Won Point %: 57.57
The Ryder Cup format... Matchplay... Matchplay scoring is used in all the matches. Each hole is played in isolation, with the player or pair taking fewest shots winning that hole Fourballs... Fourballs will be the opening matches played on Friday and Saturday. Teams send out pairs of players out against each other. There are four balls in play at once - one for each player - with the lowest score winning the hole Foursomes... Foursomes will be played on the Friday and Saturday afternoons. Here, the players take alternative shots with just the one ball per pair Singles... On Sunday, 12 singles matches are played, with everyone going head-to-head in solo contests One point is awarded for a match victory and half-a-point for a tie with a total of 28 available
Medinah Country Club Par 72, 7658 yards... No. 1 433 yards, Par 4 In 2012, the first change the players of the 39th Ryder Cup Matches will notice on Course No. 3 at Medinah Country Club will be on the first tee. The addition of a new back tee has lengthened the hole, and hitting a hybrid or 3-wood off the tee will mean a flatter lie in the landing area. The attempt to hit a driver may result in a hanging lie in the fairway. It might be wiser the leave the "big dog" in the bag. The green has a slight pitch, from back-to-front, with a Rees Jones collection area, back-left that needs to be avoided. The toughest hole placement is back-right, with only 18 feet of green behind the front-right bunker. It's an easy opening hole, compared to the rest of the course, and can give a player a false sense of security. No. 2 192 yards, Par 3 Many players say that the difficulty of Course No. 3 begins on the second tee box. This very challenging par-3 has a forced carry, with no bailout on the left side. A missed shot left leads to a walk of shame to the drop area. The traditional winds from the southwest will blow in and across the face of the players and makes this hole a difficult par-3. No. 3 412 yards, Par 4 From the tee, the players will see the Rees Jones bunkers down the right side that should be the target to work the ball right-to-left. They will have to try to stay to the right side to avoid the overhanging Medinah trees. Leveling of the fairway took away what used to be a blind second shot, and made this a viable birdie hole. The green slopes from back-to-front and is guarded by bunkers on both sides. No. 4 463 yards, Par 4 Favor the right side of this pitched fairway, as any balls hit down the left side will likely find the rough. Approach shots to the green always play a club longer because of the severe elevation change from fairway-to-green. The green is slightly sloped from back-to-front, but has a way of disguising one of the fastest putts at Medinah. The key here is to keep the ball below the hole. No. 5 536 yards, Par 5 The shortest par-5 on the course makes this is the perfect risk/reward par-5. The premium location with a driver is right-center, leaving most players with a 3- or 4-iron to an elevated green. The green isn't easy to hit in two, because it is elevated. However, the hole makes most players want to gamble. We may see a hybrid/hybrid club combination as the two-shot plan, with a putt at eagle that could swing a match! No. 6 509 yards, Par 4 One of Medinah's truly great par-4's! With the addition of a new back tee, the length requires a driver shaping from left-to-right off the three fairway bunkers. Do not make the mistake of missing the fairway to the right, or you are staring bogey right in the face. Left side of the fairway will still leave most a mid- to long-iron into a sloped and well-bunkered green. This is a hole where the tee shot will definitely dictate the score. No. 7 617 yards, Par 5 Another Medinah Classic, the seventh is the longest par-5 on the course, as well as the member's No. 1 handicap hole. Rees Jones added another tee box that calls for the ideal tee shot down the left side, which will set up a lay-up shot focused on being 120 yards out. Anything closer brings a left side fairway bunker into play. Do not miss the green or fall into the steep greenside bunkers. The green is elevated and has a several subtle breaks that make it difficult to read and putt. No. 8 201 yards, Par 3 A couple of major championships ago, this was a blind tee shot. However, the leveling of the fairway has given the players a great view of a heavily guarded green that breaks hard from left to right. The key here is to locate the halfway house, as most putts will break to the building. No. 9 432 yards, Par 4 A great dogleg left that presents somewhat of a blind shot off the tee, and in today's game will require a 3-wood, or hybrid. Hugging the right side here will leave you an uphill look at a well-bunkered green that breaks fast from right-to-left. Take your par here, and run to the 10th tee. No. 10 578 yards, Par 5 A thinking man's par-5 that can be reached in two, but demands that both be great shots! The drive should be played toward the right bunkers, shaping from right-to-left. Club choice might include 3-wood to take the bunkers out of play, and then hitting a hybrid or long iron to a conservative lay-up will make the third shot a little easier. The tenth green has the greatest slope from back-to-front as any on the golf course. The dilemma here is whether to be aggressive or conservative. No. 11 440 yards, Par 4 The eleventh hole has the smallest green on the golf course, and the addition of the Rees Jones fairway bunker has put a premium on driving accuracy and club choice. The play is 3-wood or hybrid that will leave the player with short iron into a small, newly undulated green. The hole looks easy, but it could swing the momentum in a match! No. 12 476 yards, Par 4 This gem just may be the best par-4 on the property. A generous driving area benefits the player staying to the right side for a better angle to approach the green. A big oak guards the green on the left side that the membership has hit 95,345 times over the years. The second shot should be mid-iron into a green that slopes hard from left-to-right, but doesn't look as severe because of the sharp drop-off on the right side of the green to the pond. Four will go a long way here in any match! No. 13 245 yards, Par 3 Known over the years as Medinah's signature hole, the green on thirteen is now guarded by three bunkers, and slopes from right-to-left. The club choice will be the challenge as players contend with the winds off Lake Kadijah. Being the longest par-3 on the course, and with the challenge of the wind, this may be where the matches turn on Sunday. No. 14 609 yards, Par 5 The longer players have the advantage here if they can get the ball to the top of the hill. From there they will have a long iron or fairway metal into a green that is well guarded by bunkers and slopes significantly from back-to-front. It is hard to get the ball close on the third shot because of the slope in the green. The challenge here will be to contend with the overhanging Medinah trees. No. 15 391 yards, Par 4 This was the most significant change that Rees Jones made during his last update to Course #3. What was the easiest par-4 on the course has been turned into a short and potentially exciting par-4 with water adjoining the landing area and green. This hole could lead to more fireworks during the 39th Ryder Cup. If the tees are moved forward, then for many players, it will be it will be driver, 3-wood or hybrid for the long hitters! The green complex is where the challenge will begin as it is well bunkered in the front and has the Rees Jones collection area back-right. This small shallow green should produce a lot of memorable shots in Ryder Cup history! No. 16 482 yards, Par 4 The sixteenth hole is where all the fireworks began in '99, with Sergio Garcia's miraculous shot from behind an oak tree on the right side of the fairway. The new Rees Jones tee box has brought driver back in to the hands of many players to leave approximately 200 yards into an elevated green that may require an extra club. Once greenside, there is no bargain dealing with a sloped green from right-to-left that is heavily guarded with bunkers. Par may be the premium here during the matches. No. 17 193 yards, Par 3 The key here will be the wind off Lake Kadijah, and the nerves of trying to win a match to win the 39th Ryder Cup. Hitting this relatively flat green will be the key with being long or left, making up and down quite difficult. No. 18 449 yards, Par 4 This finishing hole was no easy bargain during the 2006 PGA Championship. Off the tee, Rees Jones added a group of bunkers to work the ball from right-to-left. On the approach, the green has been raised in the air almost one story high, and is flanked by some steep bunkers. The green, itself, is pitched from back-to-front, with a collection area in the back-right, with up and down to a back-right hole location almost impossible. The 18th could produce a dramatic finish to another storied event at Medinah.
Current Betting Odds... Outright Betting 2012... Friday 28th September 2012, 12:00 USA - 8/11..... Tie - 10/1..... Europe - 6/4 Outright Betting 2012... As of Thursday 27th.... USA - 7/11..... Tie - 10/1..... Europe - 13/8 I have had a bet on Europe to win the Ryder Cup, plus a cheeky one on the Tie...
Nice work red. It would be good to see Europe beating USA USA on their own turf but it's gonna be a very tight contest i think, I feel America are slighlty stronger even with the rookies and Davis Love has had the course cut to almost nothing in the rough which will help their cause even more as they love target golf over there, anyway it will all come down to who handles the pressure best as in theory all of them can play to the same standard, i'm hoping the fact Olazabal has experienced winning there can rub off on the European team and keep the Ryder cup on this side of the Atlantic.
Davis Love has told the Europeans to expect a fiery reception from the 'home' fans at this years Ryder Cup. He has stressed the importance of the home crowd to get behind his team and push them past the winning post. This is the one thing that separates this particular tournament from all the other golfing tournaments. Love, veteran of the infamously hostile crowds at Brookline 13 years ago, said: "When we travel over there, it's tough on us. When they travel over here, it's tough on them." This is something that the American crowd are infamous for with their somewhat over exuberance of home support. Both at Kiawah Island, 1991, in the 'War On The Shore' and the debacle that was Brookline in 1999 the fever that was drummed up spilled over what is expected of a home crowd. Valhalla, which is where we were for the last time on US soil, was an all together different crowd and was mainly due to the fact the American team beat us quiet easily. But this years event is going to be close. Very close if you listen to the media and players so the crowd will have some part to play in the result and lets hope that they give both teams the respect and appreciation that they deserve... Love went on to say that he hates the rough and that the crowds want to see the players 'Free Wheel' a bit and get birdies. "One thing I've never liked is rough. But the fans want to see a little excitement. They want to see birdies. We want to let these unbelievable athletes free-wheel it a little bit and just play. Medinah is such a big, long golf course and I don't think we wanted a lot of rough. "It's still going to be tough. But without the deep rough, it saves us the chip-outs and the grinding-it-out style of golf." On the European front Olazabel has denied a rumour that the Team will in some way pay a tribute towards the late and great Seve by dressing in his famous trademark colours of navy jumper and trousers and white polo shirt for Sunday's singles matches. Seve is going to be there in our team in some way or form he has said. It would be fitting if Olazabel can replay his famous dance on the 18th green after the win at Muirfield, 1987, in which he and Seve played a great part in winning the Ryder Cup on American soil for the very first time...
Can hardly contain my excitement! I bloody love the Ryder Cup. Even better that it is in America in terms of watching it on the telly, can have a day out doing odd jobs or whatever then get back, light the fire, grab a beer, golf on Top write up by the way red. PP refunding bets on match play if your players is ahead through 12 and goes on to lose.
Foursomes: Furyk/Snedeker v McIlroy/McDowell (1320 BST) Mickelson/Bradley v Donald/Garcia (1335 BST) Dufner/Z Johnson v Westwood/Molinari (1350 BST) Woods/Stricker v Poulter/Rose (1405 BST)
Today i'm going to go for: Rory/GMac to beat Furyk/Snedeker (5/6) And Luke and Sergio to beat Mickelson/Bradley (Evs)
Ive put a thread up for day one Jeff, with my bets as well... Lets hope for the right result for us as we know we are going to watch some great golf...!!! Good luck to our boys...
