Ryder Cup 2016

[JonBCFC]

Yea

There's only 12 singles though isn't there and we're 3 down?

yeah I thought there was 10 initially.. they said on 5 live we need 7 and a half out of 12.

 

[Matt_]

I think 6 and a half will be enough to win but stand to be corrected, it's possible but will need some good performances from some of the rookies.

Europe need seven and a half points to retain the cup.

 

[Matt_]

JSA I blame auto correct (more likely my dodgy typing though )

Getting back to yesterday, I think it's easy to be critical of Westwood and his selection after the event. His selection for the fourballs yesterday afternoon is more open to question but going with experience in the circumstances was a decent strategy.

However, a couple of things to remember. Firstly the three European wild cards were the unanimous choices of Clarke and all four of his vice captains. Secondly, they didn't really have much other option given five rookies had automatically qualified for the team.

The side clearly needed more experience and Kaymer and Westwood were the obvious choices, other experienced options like Donald and McDowell were none starters. Maybe Molinari could have been selected but his win in Italy came just too late. Unfortunately neither Kaymer or Westwood have won even half a point so it hasn't worked, but if Clarke and his vice-captains had chosen even more rookies and gone in with only four experienced players I think they would have been more heavily criticised in the same scenario.

For me I look back to two key matches over the first two days that I feel will ultimately cost us the cup. McIlroy/Sullivan v Mickelson/Fowler on the first morning when the Americans were awful and Europe went to the 17th tee one up but threw the point away. Secondly Westwood/Willett v Holmes/Moore yesterday when we should have taken at least a half point and probably the full point.

Whatever happens today, and I fully expect USA to win, I just hope Europe fight hard and keep it as close as possible so it's not an 18-12 type result as at Valhalla.

If this is the end of Westwood's fabulous Ryder Cup career I just hope he can go out on a winning note.

 

[Matt_]

This American crowd has got to be the worst crowd ever

It's right on a par with the awful crowd at Brookline in 1999 (Mark James book "Into the Bearpit" is a great read about that).

To be fair to the USA team their players, by and large, haven't tried to whip up the crowd and their vice captains have been seen to speak to the crowd when they have been out of order, in the case of Bubba he was even abused for doing that.

In the aftermath of 1999 things returned to some sort of relative normality in the matches since, but unfortunately the effect of this week will inevitably see a very hostile European crowd at Paris in 2018.

 

[Matt_]

A shame Patrick Reid is being a classless prick today, but not entirely unsurprising.

 

[JJH]

Fucking give it to 'em Rory.

 

[GodsGift]

A shame Patrick Reid is being a classless prick today, but not entirely unsurprising.

Isn't Rory being just as bad? Not that I care, it's all good fun.

 

[Gladders]

It's what the Ryder cup is about.

Also some amazing golf on display again, going to be a great evening

 

[Matt_]

Isn't Rory being just as bad? Not that I care, it's all good fun.

It started with Reid being a completed prat to which Rory responded after holing from 50 feet for a two, but thankfully it has now settled down and they're just playing golf.

 

[hodge]

Isn't Rory being just as bad? Not that I care, it's all good fun.

To be fair Rory is only doing it as a response to the American crowd... Well and some as a response to Reed, if the crowd (and Reed) weren't acting like they were nor would Rory.

 

[Matt_]

Also some amazing golf on display again, going to be a great evening

The standard of the play, particularly since the fourballs yesterday, has been ridiculously good. Hopefully it's what this set of matches will eventually be remembered for and not for awful Brookline style behaviour.

 

[JJH]

Westwood still hasn't grasped the concept of putting then.

 

[Matt_]

Rory looks like he might be running out of steam a bit, which wouldn't be surprising given his monumental efforts this week.

 

[slaphead]

Shit or bust now for McIlroy, he's played well but Reed has been superb. Player of the tournament so far for me.

 

[Matt_]

Yeah, Reid by far the outstanding player this week.

He's just thrown Rory a bone on the 17th though, so up the 18th they go, come on Rory!

Reid -3 through 17 against McIlroy's -2, so the scoring has been fairly ordinary in their match in comparison.

 

[slaphead]

Yes Stenson, great point from the big man. Class from Spieth though, not pissing about, admitting he was done and getting it over.

 

[slaphead]

Shot from Reed. Rory needs to hole his second now can't see Reed missing that putt.

 

[Super_horns]

Good effort by Stenson and Pieters but they look too strong overall towards the end.

 

[Matt_]

That's a massive point by Reid, but it should soon be cancelled out by Pieters. The lads down the list are battling very hard fair play to them, but Sergio and Rose need to win their matches for sure.

 

[slaphead]

Magnificent from Pieters, he's been huge for Europe after the horror of having to play with Westwood. Going to have a substantial sum of money on him and Reed to wim a major next year.

 

[Matt_]

The performance of Pieters and Cabrera-Bello in particular give plenty of grounds for optimism for future European teams, there are plenty more good young players coming through too. Hopefully some French lads, like Dubuisson and Levy, might make the 2018 matches to add a bit more spice for the home crowd.

 

[slaphead]

The Mickelson/Garcia match looks to be a classic too, both hit top form at the right time.

 

[Matt_]

The Mickelson/Garcia match looks to be a classic too, both hit top form at the right time.

Through 15 Mickelson -7 to Garcia's -6

 

[slaphead]

Through 15 Mickelson -7 to Garcia's -6

Stunning figures given the context.

 

[Aber gas]

Fucking give it to 'em Rory.

Oh I see. "European" when it suits you.

#longtermgains

 

[Matt_]

Yes, nobody else on the course looks to be close to that scoring. Gutting for Sergio if he loses as that golf would be comfortably beating just about anybody else on the USA team.

 

[JJH]

Oh I see. "European" when it suits you.

#longtermgains

 

[slaphead]

Rose simply has to hole that, he's had a poor tournament, but there is a small chance of some redemption there..

 

[slaphead]

Summed up Roses three days right there, Fowler didn't even have to play well to beat him.

 

[Matt_]

Putter has been cold for Rose all week, otherwise he's played solid, but the putts are what make the difference in this.

That Mickelson/Garcia game is crazy, to be fair a half would be a fair result for both but Europe so need that point now.