Not a massive golf fan, but always find this brilliant to watch. Surprised to see British players in Team Europe though.
Yes, one of my favourite sporting events of all. Should’ve been flying to Portugal right now to go on holiday but instead I’m isolating with Covid until next Friday. The Ryder Cup will at least keep me going over the weekend. Still wish I was on that plane though…..
Didn’t realise we’d switched continents….. Nearly started a thread on the Ryder Cup last night watching the opening ceremony and the captains’ speeches. I look forward to this as much as I do the World Cup, if not more so. Brave picks from Harrington for the first session. The obvious pick of Rahm and Garcia, and love teaming up Rory with Poults, but Fitzpatrick and Westwood could backfire - I’d have put Fitz with someone in form. At least Hovland is in the morning session. Backed Europe with a -2.5 handicap and picked Fitz to top score for the team.
Pretty sure we're still in Europe, unless some James Bond style super villain built a country-moving earthquake machine and jiggled us further into the Atlantic.
What's the course like this year? Is it preened and pruned to an inch of it's life, making even the longest rough easily escapable? If so, The US will win, I'd say. De Chambeau will be able to drive almost to the green on many holes without the risk of a bad lay should he shank it wide.
I quite like our pairings in the morning, particularly Garcia and Rahm. Now I’ve said that we’ll probably get 0 points!
I have my misgivings for Europe this time, US have massive home advantage as there will be close to zero European support, you'd think eventually the US team have to click, Europe have several players over 40 and the US have none, so it will be an interesting battle between youth and experience, the US captain doesn't inspire me much. Lots of factors to consider, but I reckon this time we'll see a comfortable US victory.
Plays more like a Links Course than your typical PGA one apparently. The wind is up as well (or was yesterday) so with it being right next to Lake Michigan that could make things interesting. There were murmurs from the US camp a few weeks ago about how it wasn't set up to give them home advantage. Not sure if they've changed that now. Only one American has won a major tournament there this millennium.
A comparison of world rankings suggests a USA victory particularly as the ranking points are mainly based on US tournaments. Nah it doesn’t look very good but let’s hope their two muscle heads start a brawl and get disqualified.
Stricker has been superb in the build up. He really 'gets it', brings none of the typical US abrasiveness, none of the arrogance, very down to earth, on his home course. Really nice guy. This US team, if you take out Bryson, Johnson and arguably Keopke, is one of the most likeable in decades. They could go on to dominate this tournament for the next 6-8 years with the talent they have. Players like Finau and Colin Morikawa are the types you'd want to have found a Jack Charlton Irish Passport for a decade or so ago. As genuine and nice as they come. However, these guys just aren't used to match play golf nor are they used to foursomes and four balls and being in a team. That levels the playing field slightly.
What’s wrong with DJ think he is one of the more likeable US players , Thomas on the other hand is an odious runt . Think everything points to a an easy US win , our big boys have to turn up again Poulter Garcia and Westwood could be one Ryder Cup too far for them
Reckon it will be close, course is in Americans favour but 4 out of 5 longest drivers in the world are European. Like Matt Fitzpatrick said yesterday this is a second shot course. Iron play and reading the pitch on the greens is key. You've then got the Postman who for just 3 days each 2 years becomes a beast. There's also some tasty bunkers, which look like 80% plungers. Europeans have advantage in that area due to growing up playing in damp and coarse bunkers.
Really mystified why Harrington chose not to pick Justin Rose. Big game player and still high up the world rankings I think.
Nothing wrong with DJ. What about our less likeable players. Westwood was the epitome of a spoilt brat as a kid. Now every interview he gives he mentions his age, to highlight how good he still is. No humility, no class. Right, rant over......Tough task ahead, but.........can't see a Team Europe win. Sorry
