Pick your 2014 Ryder Cup teams

SSK

A bit of fun inspired by the very entertaining Solheim Cup last week and the fact that the European qualification kicks off next week in Wales after a visit to the Ryder Cup venue itself, Gleneagles, this week.

From the European side I see the following as close to bankers barring a huge loss in form/injury on the basis of current form, past RC history and suitability to matchplay. It wouldn't surprise me however if one or two needed wild cards:

McIlroy
McDowell
Rose
Westwood
Poulter
Donald
Garcia
Stenson

There are some excellent young players knocking about and I think Mannasero and Olesen in particular will be in contention, however with there only being 4 spots from the European Tour rankings, anyone playing a largely Euro based schedule could ironically be at a disadvantage.

Kaymer I think will bounce back after a couple of bad years and I'll say Blixt may sneak in as well on the basis of his good form in the States this year.

The American team is probably harder to pick given that outside Tiger and maybe Mickelson there is about 20 players around the same level. I'll go for the following:

Tiger
Phil
Dufner
Kuchar
Snedeker
Bradley
Mahan
Haas
D.Johnson
Stricker
Spieth
Bubba

big_drive

Won't be surprised if Shane Lowry makes it, think he has a good chance

RikkFlair

Only 2 changes IMO from last team, out go Hanson and Lawrie and in come Mannasero and Stenson.

SSK

big_drive wrote: »

Won't be surprised if Shane Lowry makes it, think he has a good chance

I think his chances completely depend on whether he can crack the Top 50 or not. If he finishes the year well it would set him up well for a run at the team but he'll have to be more consistent.

RikkFlair wrote: »

Only 2 changes IMO from last team, out go Hanson and Lawrie and in come Mannasero and Stenson.

Don't think Colsaerts will be near it to be honest, he was lucky to get in last time out and had a pretty shocking year on the PGA Tour. Molinari will be there or thereabouts alright

big_drive

More than likely there will be some surprise player who nobody expects. A guy who hits a run of form, wins a couple tournaments & ends up in team.

PARlance

Lawrie hasn't got a mention yet, pretty sure he'll be part of the team.
If not automatic, it'll be hard to leave out a Scot as one of the 3 wildcard picks

Rikand

big_drive wrote: »

More than likely there will be some surprise player who nobody expects. A guy who hits a run of form, wins a couple tournaments & ends up in team.

Harrington ?

FixdePitchmark

RikkFlair wrote: »

Only 2 changes IMO from last team, out go Hanson and Lawrie and in come Mannasero and Stenson.

lads what is up with Hanson ? Big drop in form , was he injured ?

FixdePitchmark

It is amazing. If you look at OP from SSK , you would say Europe wouldnt have a chance against that US team, but we know The Ryder Cup never pans out as the paper says.

death1234567

There'll be a few more token players from the european tour meaning that one or two of the best european players playing on the PGA tour will miss out IMO. Colsaerts maybe...