Ryder Cup thread

[tikay]

Think we ought to have a Ryder Cup thread, so here we go.

As it happens, I ought to be the last person to start it, as I detest all the overblown hype it attracts from the Media almost as much as I dislike the "football crowd" mentality from the, err, "gallery", though it's hardly a gallery when everyone is booing, screaming & heckling.

But I'm going to try very hard to enjoy it.

[tikay]

Venue?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Golf_National

Apparently, it has a spectator capacity for 80,000.

Even a quarter of those chanting U S A or whatever will make quite a racket.

Looks like there's a bit of water on the course.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

USA have named their three "wild cards".

Tiger Woods

Phil Mickelson

Bryson DeChambeau.


Delighted to see Woods in the Team.

Yes, he has his detractors, which is fair enough, but he's surprised everyone this year by the comeback in his form & the apparent improvement in his demeanour. His presence will certainly be a bonus to neutrals like me. I actually don't give a monkey's who wins, but would love to see a good, close contest played in the true spirit of golf. 

[tikay]

Europe name their wild cards at 2pm today.

Names in consideration include Poulter, Stenson, Casey & Garcia.

Garcia must be the difficult one. So much ability & experience, but so out of sorts right now. Bet they include him though.

[tikay]

Betting markets?

There are a zillion of them, but for the outright, it's something like this;

USA 4/5 or 5/6

Europe 6/5 or 5/4

Draw - 10/1 & 12/1

Here;

https://www.oddschecker.com/golf/ryder-cup


A wheelbarrow job on USA @ those prices?

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Europe's 4 wild card selections have just been announced;

Paul Casey.

Sergio Garcia.

Ian Poulter.

Henrik Stenson.

No surprises there, then.

[marcro]

Europe's 4 wild card selections have just been announced;

Paul Casey.

Sergio Garcia.

Ian Poulter.

Henrik Stenson.

No surprises there, then.

Not sure Garcia's form warrants selection.  His value in the team room could be met by making him a vice captain.  At the Ryder Cup, form is far more important than experience and you only have to look how well rookies on form have performed in previous Ryder Cups and how experienced players out of form have flopped.  If you have won on Tour you will cope with the Ryder Cup.  Matt Wallace must be scratching his head at not being selected.

[BigAdz]

Got to feel for Rafa and Matt Wallace after the weekend performances.

Not sure I would want to pair Serge with his usual Spanish blade this time as Rahms head will drop when the going gets tough(as I know to my cost).  Instead, I would be tempted to pair Garcia with Poulter. Could be quality.

For all that the US squad seems so strong.

The French track is one of the toughest out there, and that is when the best thrive. We may have more experience of it, but a few warm up rounds will soon level that out.

Will be hard to funk against Europe, but the wheelbarrow has been unloaded.

[bobby1]

In my opinion Paris National is the best course on the European tour, and by quite a distance too. It's set up really well, it's tough and the last 4 holes  are really tough. Doubt there will be many firework comebacks a la Poulter down the stretch here in the pairs rounds unless the oppos combine to have a mare coz par on all those 4 holes is a really good score.

It's a world away from your typical US event, drive it long flick it to the green kind of course which is a good thing for the Euro team this year as The US team look much better on paper. Can deffo see a few of the Yanks not having the correct mindset to get around here and the good thing about Tiger and Phil is their weakness is their driving and you can get in some horrid spots or water easily off the tee here.

Alex Noren posted a score in this years French Open there and then watched the guys in front of him fall back down that stretch for him to get the win about an hour after he had finished his round. The 3 players level or in front of him after he had posted 7 under in the clubhouse shot a combined +7 for those last 4 holes.

Was hoping TB didn't pick Casey, with the camaraderie angle of the Euros over the years looking like a strength of the US team these days too Casey is so disliked by most of the players on tour for being super aloof and condescending that I can't see how he is going to improve the locker room above his undoubted golf ability. The one big thing in his favour is its a track that should suit him.

Matt Wallace instead of Casey would also show that committing to the European Tour and earning your way close to the automatic picks will get you in the team. Casey made almost no effort to get into the team himself via European tour results.

If Ed Molinari can get a pick instead of Casey the form Ed  was in leading up to Celtic Manor then Wallace's 3 wins this season and the way he won last weekend, think he birdied 7 of his last 8 holes to win in a play off might have sent a better message out to the European Tour players and team.

[BigAdz]

Excellent stuff old chap.

Wish you had posted before I went mad.


Please post more on golf!!

[tikay]

The Ryder Cup just got revved up big time.

[tikay]

Team USA arrive in Paris.

Clearly, team uniforms are all the vogue these days, though I'm not sure I've seen sunglasses included in team apparel before. 

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

This is part of the Grandstand behind the 1st tee.

Imagine having to tee off in front of that when it's full of spectators.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Team USA arrive in Paris.

Clearly, team uniforms are all the vogue these days, though I'm not sure I've seen sunglasses included in team apparel before. 

Click to see full-size image.

Seen on Twitter;


Put your glasses on if you hate Patrick Reed

[TightEnd]

If the Ryder Cup was a 24 runner 72-hole Strokeplay event on the exact same course setup, who’s your top 3 in the betting and bottom 3 in the betting?

what are their odds?