I love the Ryder Cup. I think it is the most compelling competition in golf and I look forward to it very much.
TV coverage in the states starts early on Friday, on the east coast. 2:30 am. Actually starts at 11;30 pm Thursday night on the west coast.
Two years ago, the US team won for the first time in the 21st century. The only other time the US team has won since 1993 is 1999 matches in the Boston area in a miraculous Sunday comeback
This year the matches are going to be in Wales, and the weather does not look good. Rain in the forecast every day. :mad:
The US Team, according to the British bookies are decided underdogs. You can bet 80 pounds on the Yanks and get 130 lbs back plus your original bet. (if the Yanks win)
The US team won fairly easily in 2008 without Tiger Woods on the team, and have struggled mightily when Tiger has been on the team.
I’ll be glued to the TV to watch the compelling competition in golf. Go USA.
Hard to see anything other than a collective smacked arse for the Yanks in this one. A weekend of golf in Wales in the pishing rain? Mickelson et al won’t want to get involved - they’ll be pining for the balmy country clubs of home by Saturday morning.
In the US’ favour, the European captain is one of the most egregious dickheads in world sport. So there’s a possibility the entire Euro team could throw the match in rage at having to share the same golf course as him for 3 days.
Are ye sending over any hillbillies for our entertainment? Bubba Watson, schooled at Faulkner State Community College, University of Georgia - sounds like there’s some redneck potential there.
Tiger will still detract from the cup . You have to wonder if he can play well in this format, after all the troubles he caused himself. It is a team running with a spare donut tire it can not quite trust. It may be fine but you worry about it all the time you have to depend on it.
This year, as in 2006, I suspect we could go back to the old system, with the U.S. vs. England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and the American squad would STILL be underdogs.
As in 2006, the European captain had so many great people to choose from, he left some big names off the team.
Big upsets are possible, and I’ll be delighted to be proven wrong… but the Euro team looks so much deeper than ours, it’s hard to imagine them losing.
I don’t think there is any way that they will not play into Monday.
The Ryder cup should not be scheduled in October. I know 3 of the last 4 Ryder Cups have been marred by rain. 1997 in Spain, 2006 in Ireland, and now this one.
I am glad I set the DVR rather than staying up all night.
Who would have thought that Bubba and Overton would be the only Yanks that have done anything of note in the first 2 hours?
Apparently the US team are having to buy actual waterproof waterproofs from the merchandise tent at Celtic Manor. lol.
Well, this day hasn’t turned out as planned, so off to get a haircut and then the pub. It’s as wet here as in Wales, so have fashioned rudimentary canoe.
I’m sorry, but this is absloute bollocks. The results of the individual players contribute towards the team result. If the 2008 team had 12 players with Steve Stricker’s record, it would not have won the Ryder Cup. In effect, Steve Stricker is 1-0 despite his participation, not because of it.
Now, you could try to make the argument that Tiger’s (good) individual results do not compensate sufficiently for what you see as his disruptive effect on the rest of the team, but you’re not doing very well at it so far.
I truly believe that in RC competitions that “…The whole is greater than the sum of the parts…”
Match Play at the Ryder Cup is total crap shoot, an individual can play well (shoot ~66) and lose their match, an individual can play poorly (shoot ~73) and win. It depend on how well your opponent plays, and also how well your partner plays. I don’t glean any information from individual records because it is totally irrelevant.
In match play ,you change your play to counter the play of your opponent. If he gets in trouble off the tee, you go conservative. If he does something good, you have to do something better or as well. The score is not important, just beating your opponent by one stroke will do. You can win with a bogie or lose with a birdie. It is a different game and not all players can adapt well to it. It is fun to watch, but can be hell to play. It is fun to watch ,except for the rain.
ESPN announcers suggest the matches will not be completed by Monday and every point has become more important.