Ryder Cup - Tickets have arrived

Actually the least I've ever been looking forward to the Ryder Cup, mostly because the US team looks like it could be pretty weak. Also think it could be a washout with it being so late in the year now with the FedEx cup. But I'd still like to be going!

fullstop wrote: »

Actually the least I've ever been looking forward to the Ryder Cup, mostly because the US team looks like it could be pretty weak. Also think it could be a washout with it being so late in the year now with the FedEx cup. But I'd still like to be going!

You sour bollox!!!!!!

slave1 wrote: »

I agree 100%, paper does little when the team aspect comes into play and players hit form at the right time.
I'm hoping for a tight/tough contest with a marginal Euro victory.

Like Thomas Levet said to some US players a few years ago when they lost after much pre-tournament hype about the US being the strongest team by far on paper, something along the lines of "Pity for you we play golf on grass over here and not paper"

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think the US are going to win.

Was thinking that last time as Ollie was a bit of a clown - but the whole Seve thing worked.

This will go down like a lead balloon - I like McGinley as a bloke, a golfer, hope he wins.

But don't rate him up against Watson.

I'd reckon the role of a captain in golf teams is always overstated, and the importance of the role in Ryder Cup golf is a media creation that keeps eating itself, to the point that some captains even believe it themselves.

I can't remember which European captain it was who considered the idea of having 12 vice captains, one for each match on day three, but whoever it was kind of summed up the eating yourself mentality that pervades. What on earth Rory, Sergio or Justin could gain from having an elder statesman torturing them with frantic scoring updates, 'strategy' and backslappery, I've no idea. But hey, the captain could have a realtime ear and eye on proceedings - that's what's important.

Last thought is simple enough. A bad captain has the potential to lose the event by setting the wrong atmosphere in his team. But even the best captain in the history of the world ever can't uncoil a drive or sink a putt in this event: they're spectators like the rest of us.

saintastic wrote: »

Don't know if I agree with that:

Watson - won a major this year - excellent in fourballs
Fowler - fantastic major record this year - arguably the 2nd best player in the world at the moment
Furyk - highest ranked American in the OWGR - having a great season and in great form
Walker - 7th in the PGA, 26th in The Open and 9th in the US Open
Mickelson - should be excellent in fourballs - very strong player
Kuchar - Has won on tour this season, 9th, 12th and 4th in last three events
Spieth - Starting to find form again and has Walker Cup experience. Great talent.
Reed - 9th, 24th, 58th, 4th (WGC) in last four events so showing strong form
Johnson - Treading water slightly form wise but has won 3 out of 7 ryder cup matches and would be great for foursomes.

Then add in the following picks and their team is looking quite strong:

Mahan - in great form obviously
Bradley - 4th in US Open, 19th in The Open, 4th in WGC and loves Ryder Cup. Will make good pairing with Mickleson.
Snedeker - missed the cut at The Barclays but went 5th, 13th and 12th in the three preceeding events.

Yeah but 4 of the world's top 5 will be lining up for Europe and the US are missing Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods and possibly Jason Dufner.

fullstop wrote: »

Is there any need for the personal abuse? :rolleyes:

I'm entitled to my opinion and that's my opinion, couldn't give 2 fcuks if you like it or not. Maybe hava another read of the last sentence, I said I'd still like to be going.

Felexicon wrote: »

You sour bollox!!!!!!

relax people.
If you have a problem with a post, report it and move on, replying on thread brings you under the mod microscope.

thewobbler wrote: »

I'd reckon the role of a captain in golf teams is always overstated, and the importance of the role in Ryder Cup golf is a media creation that keeps eating itself, to the point that some captains even believe it themselves.

Well Mc Ginley keeps on saying its a full time job for 2 years !
I crack up when I hear him saying it ,pure nonsense.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think the US are going to win.

Was thinking that last time as Ollie was a bit of a clown - but the whole Seve thing worked.

This will go down like a lead balloon - I like McGinley as a bloke, a golfer, hope he wins.

But don't rate him up against Watson.

Based on what?

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Based on what?

Well the US have a better captain.

They are going into it as underdogs. Will suit them for a change. The last win by Europe was painful for them.

The last European win was a bit of a freak. Hard to see yanks being that poor in a singles again. Impossible in fact.

Some European players are not going into it in great form
Kaymer
Rose

The guys in form are very hot and cold.
Stension
Garcia

I don't think Bjorn is good under pressure - the guys the European team are looking at picking are not in form .

The players you would look at in Europe for a Ryder cup are not in great form - Poulter - McDowell - Donald - Westwood.

Europe need Rookies to play a stormer - this is their best hope. The European team have great Rookies. But this is always a hit and miss affair. I feel the greatest strength Europe has are the strong Rookies.

Will be interesting to see how Rory does in a team ? - his performance will be a big factor.

Just a feeling. A sporting opinion - you could make the same argument about the other team.

But will be putting my money on yanks - how many points are Fowler and Mickelson going to get alone.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Well the US have a better captain.

They are going into it as underdogs. Will suit them for a change. The last win by Europe was painful for them.

The last European win was a bit of a freak. Hard to see yanks being that poor in a singles again. Impossible in fact.

Some European players are not going into it in great form
Kaymer
Rose

The guys in form are very hot and cold.
Stension
Garcia

I don't think Bjorn is good under pressure - the guys the European team are looking at picking are not in form .

The players you would look at in Europe for a Ryder cup are not in great form - Poulter - McDowell - Donald - Westwood.

Europe need Rookies to play a stormer - this is their best hope. The European team have great Rookies. But this is always a hit and miss affair. I feel the greatest strength Europe has are the strong Rookies.

Will be interesting to see how Rory does in a team ? - his performance will be a big factor.

Just a feeling. A sporting opinion - you could make the same argument about the other team.

But will be putting my money on yanks - how many points are Fowler and Mickelson going to get alone.

My goodness Fixde, you are really clutching at straws to manufacture some kind of argument here.

Rose, in bad form?!?

Garcia has been one of the most consistent performers in the big events over the last 4 months, Stenson in contention also in USPGA

Don't think McDowell or Donald will make the team so that's easy

I honestly think this is probably the strongest European team ever, it's going to be a demolition job, much as I'd prefer a close run thing.

It's the US players who are in poor form, bar Jim who is a perennial bottler!

........pause to get my breath back :-)

Trapper.

Europe have won 10 of the last 14 matches.

It will be hard to find too many Americans with a great record.

Rickie - a new player.

Will be interesting to see if he puts Phil and Rickie together - too much resources in one group maybe.

Rikand wrote: »

I think your world ranking information is a little bit dated....

http://www.owgr.com/

Rose 5th
Stenson 3rd
Garcia Top Class, I dont care how much you hate him.

Lol - don't know what I was looking at. So much for me

How is Garcia top class - at what ?

just noticed I'm not the only one with outdated stats - that ryder cup info was from before the 2012 one - oops

-edited in with current information-

I agree that Garcia is not particularly likeable (well, I don't particularly like him for lots of reasons, many of then related to his dealings with Padraig Harrington), but I have to admit that he's a top class player with an excellent Ryder Cup record. And I would expect him to be one of the key players in this year's competition.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I don't think it matters to anybody.

But he is still a fairly unlike-able bloke.

He is just is a pain in the .......... :eek:

and that affects his golfing ability how ?

Rikand wrote: »

nevermind, just saw this.


still doesnt make sense when coupled with this though

You can be a great golfer - but a poor clutch golfer.

He doesn't have a major - Why

You can be an ok golfer but a great clutch golfer (McDowell) - He has a major.

But Ryder cup is different .

Rocko wrote: »

They have 2-3 trains from Glasgow on Sunday but they are all booked up. There are no buses leaving Glasgow on Sunday.

I thought travel to the golf course would be the least of my travel problems!!

Are you travelling in a group?

If there are 3-4 people then it'll probably be just as cheap, if not cheaper, to get a cab.
I know Falkirk to Edinburgh set me back about £40 the last time, approx 40mins.
Glasgow to Gleneagles is about an hour so you should be able to arrange a deal for £60 making it fairly economical for even just 2 people.

Getting back would require a bit of calling around in advance.

Poor form really that there aren't sufficient trains going.