Ryder Cup 2016

[Matt_]

My favourite sporting event by a distance and I'll be glued to the coverage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in hope of yet another European victory.

It's unlikely to match the drama of the last matches held in the USA, at Medinah in 2012, but every set of matches is special in it's own right and sure to leave a lot of lasting memories.

The Americans are undoubtedly strong favourites this time around, as they have been for many recent meetings, and Europe certainly have their work cut out to come home with the trophy again.

They certainly don't learn though. At a time when they should be playing down their chances and talking up Europe as the favourites (off the back of eight wins in the last ten) instead they talk up their side as the best ever, which is absolute nonsense, and talk down the European team as the worst in a long time.

Hopefully this will backfire on them as their team is under a huge amount of pressure to deliver and these comments just ramp up that pressure more. I feel if Europe can get off to a decent start, and keep the rowdy home crowd fairly quiet, the pressure may tell on the Americans and there could be yet another famous victory.

Several of the European stars are going to have to show strongly if Europe are to win, but ultimately it will probably come down to how the European rookies perform, particularly on Sunday, and I have a lot of faith in those rookies who are very talented players.

Bring it on.

 

[Jackinky]

I'm also looking forward to this a lot.

We're definitely the underdogs this year but are nowhere near out of it. I'm hoping Rose and Westwood play well as when they're in form they're all but unstoppable. I defiantly think we've got a great chance to improve on our 5 wins in a row.

 

[Leo]

I'm an early bedder so I'll miss the bulk of this. Prefer it when it's played in Europe.

 

[Super_horns]

America always seem to be the favourites but blow it as we have the better team players.

Quite a few rookies this time though but maybe they are in form?

 

[Jackinky]

I'm an early bedder so I'll miss the bulk of this. Prefer it when it's played in Europe.

The timing isn't actually that bad, it starts in the afternoon Uk time and finishes about half eight I think, not too bad.

 

[Destruction]

The timing isn't actually that bad, it starts in the afternoon Uk time and finishes about half eight I think, not too bad.

Finishes between midnight and 1am more likely cha.

Can't see past the US team, looks a ridiculously strong side.

 

[ValeMouth]

I think Europe will win this. Iove the ryder cup and it will be busy at work because of it, plenty more people wanting golf lessons after getting the buzz from this late in the season

 

[slaphead]

MY favourite sporting event, ever. Can't wait for this to start, I'll be watching every minute, much to the missus' disgust. On paper, the Yanks are going to be red hot favourites, but the team aspect of the competition always brings out the best in the Europeans. You seem to get the feeling it is one team against 12 individuals, and having Tiger as a Vice-Captain won't go anyway to changing that.

Europe have a lot of rookies, but they are all winners and all come from a very close-knit tour, they travel together week in week out and know each others games, which is a massive advantage. I was listening to that boorish windbag Johnny Miller say this is the weakest European team he's ever seen, well, he always says that and he's always wrong.

But the one thing I can see turning this in the Americans favour is the loss of Arnold Palmer, his passing will bring a unity to them they haven't seen for a very long while, so much was he revered by US golf. They will want 'to do it for Arnie' much as Europe did when Seve passed, and I think it will give them the little edge they need so as it stands I can't see past a USA win, it will be tight if we lead going into the singles, but if the US lead, it turn out to be a bit of a pasting I'm afraid.

USA to win 16-12 at 10/1 is where my money is going.

 

[Shrimpurh]

RORY IS BACK LADS! IT'S OKAY WE WILL WIN AGAIN NOW

 

[Modernist]

Can't see anything else than a US victory this time.

 

[Shrimpurh]

We missed a trick not having Casey and Knox IMO

 

[Matt_]

Russell Knox is unlucky, it was obviously a very close call between him and Thomas Pieters, but I think Clarke got that one right. World Ranking points are weighted far too much towards the USPGA Tour and personally I feel Pieters is the better player.

Paul Casey only has himself to blame and I think he'll eventually regret the decision he has made. The European Tour couldn't have made it much easier for him to meet the qualification criteria but he choose to go a different route.

Casey cited family reasons for his decision but I think he is still sulking from missing out on a pick by Monty in 2010 and just cutting off his nose to spite his face. Europe have done just fine without him since 2010.

 

[slaphead]

First foursome matches announced-

Spieth & Reed vs Rose & Stenson
Mickelson & Fowler vs McIlroy & Sullivan
Walker & Z. Johnson vs Garcia & Kaymer
D. Johnson & Kucher vs Peiters & Westwood

Sone intriguing games there, very hard to call. Can't wait for it to start now to be honest.

 

[Super_horns]

Can see it being 2-2 after the first ties.

Heavyweight paring out first.

No Willett....

 

[Matt_]

That first match is very significant psychologically for both teams. I think both captains would take a half from that game if offered it now

I quite fancy McIlroy/Sullivan to get the point. Mickelson doesn't strike me as ideal in foursomes, particularly if he drives it as horrendously as he did at Atlanta last week and Fowler hasn't been in good form.

The other two matches look too evenly matched to call, with Westmood/Pieters maybe having the toughest task. Hopefully Pieters can show the kind of form that got him his wild card selection. If the occasion doesn't get to him I feel he could be a real star performer for Europe.

There are stories that Willett had been pencilled in to play with Westwood, I'm not sure about whether there is any real truth in that, but after all the crap his brother came out with and all the ruckus it has caused it's a smart move to keep him back for the fourballs this afternoon.

2-2 looks a good call, but after winning the foursomes 7-1 at Gleneagles Europe may be hoping for an edge going into this afternoon.

 

[spireite]

Not off to the greatest start, Spieth and Reed love playing together and are 2up already. Looks like we might go down in the 4th match too.

 

[slaphead]

Westwood having a shocker and that can't be doing Peiters any good. First match out is a good one, if the Yanks can keep their temperament they should win from here, but expect Rose and Stenson to grind thrm down late in the match.

 

[Matt_]

Superb foursomes play from Speith/Reid through the first seven holes, very difficult to compete with that, but in foursomes there is always a chance to overturn these kind of deficits so still hope for Rose/Stenson.

Frustratingly McIlroy/Sullivan look like handing a hole right back to Mickelson/Fowler after having one gifted to them.

 

[Leo]

McIlroy & Sullivan back in front after going behind.

 

[spireite]

Why the fuck is Westwood playing anyway

 

[Matt_]

The pace of play for foursomes is appalling. They're really going to struggle to get the fourballs in this afternoon unless those games all get finished early.

Europe need to somehow get out of this morning at 2-2, but unfortunately it's looking like 3-1 USA at the best.

The European pairings for this afternoon will be interesting as it looks like all four unused rookies could be playing.

 

[spireite]

Why are Spieth and Reed talking to the interviewer really softly like a pair of paedophiles trying to lure a kid away from its parents with sweeties?

 

[JJH]

Cracking start...

 

[slaphead]

Fucks sake, an hour ago that looked like 2-2 and the we fell apart. Big hour for Clarke now, Westwood needs to be benched until Sunday and the rookies need to play before it's too late.

 

[Leo]

Whitewash it is....I quite like Fowler but I cannot stick Reed....he just gets up my fucking nose!

 

[Leo]

Why are Spieth and Reed talking to the interviewer really softly like a pair of paedophiles trying to lure a kid away from its parents with sweeties?

They have a litter of puppies to go to good homes.

 

[Super_horns]

Well these are the Fourballs pairings..

18:30 Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed v Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson

18:45 JB Holmes and Ryan Moore v Sergio Garcia and and Rafe Cabrera Bello

19:00 Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka v Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett

19:15 Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar v Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters

Maybe win one if we are lucky...

 

[slaphead]

I actually quite like the look of those, I can see us winning this afternoon. Glad Pieters has been given the chance to repair the psychological damage of this morning.

 

[Matt_]

Yeah, decent looking pairings for Europe this afternoon.

Just plain outplayed this morning, Europe didn't do themselves any justice, so all credit to the USA team whose play put Europe under a lot of pressure and they were found wanting.

It was so important to keep it close in the early matches and keep the crowd fairly quiet, it's going to be very difficult to keep the crowd quiet now. If Europe lose the fourballs session this afternoon it's as good as over. Europe need to win two of the next three sessions and not lose the other if the deficit going into the singles isn't going to be insurmountable, a very tough ask!

 

[Super_horns]

Comeback on...