2025 Ryder Cup, Bethpage, NY.

That's a bit unfair on Paddy. I've seen several of his losing team praise him after the event, despite the loss. Paul Casey for one…..

“Clearly, Padraig will go down as a losing Ryder Cup captain,” he admits. “But he might be the best captain I’ve ever played for. No one ever writes that. He was an amazing captain. We didn’t have a crowd because of Covid. That was a massive factor. Sometimes it comes down to that little bit of luck.

“I’ll tell you how good a captain Padraig was,” Casey continues. “The caddies bought him a watch. They all got together, bought him a Rolex and brought him to tears when they presented it to him in Dubai, a few weeks after the matches. That said so much. Caddies normally don’t like dipping their hands in their pockets for players. But it was actually the flip side of what was going to happen if we won. Padraig was going to buy every caddie a watch. He was so highly respected.”

I've no skin in it either way, but I think a poor enough Europe team just ran into one of the better US teams in 2021. I actually think if they played the week after, and the week after, the result would have been much the same. Too many Europeans were over the hill and the young guys hadn't really made their claim. Even delaying it by that one year I think pushed a few of them too far.

This will probably age like milk 😄, but even though the US are favourites on home soil, I think Europe will win and win well. I don't think its a particularly frightening US team and I think bar maybe 2 players, its a very strong Europe. Roll on Friday !!

Watching the coverage and there's some amount of love-bombing the fans by the Europeans. Spending ages signing everything presented to them.

Oh this must be in jest surely! Stenson was made captain and then ran off to join LIV. That's how much respect he showed the Ryder Cup. Don't get me started on Reed, Garcia, Poulter, et al.

Maybe it's just me but does anyone find a lot of the Ryder cup stuff a bit cringe? Almost like all involved try too hard to hype it up. I think the fact that virtually all the Europeans play their golf on pga tour dilutes any real rivalry, they know each other well compared to previous eras.

can’t agree with this, can’t see that much cringe, it's a longish build up but it’s only every 2 years all in all…

The Europeans playing in America doesn’t dilute it in any way, so they know each other well, look at matches in Gaa or soccer or any sport up and down the land where two local teams know each other well, playing a derby match or whatever , the rivalry to beat that other team is real and so is the Ryder cup

Used to love it as a kid but I guess I’ve become old and cynical. The thought of 12 lads who play primarily in the US playing for an entity (Europe) that is not bound together in any other sporting context makes it a bit cringe inducing and phony for me.

The fact that these lads play a sport that is notoriously selfish and individualistic and spend the other 103 weeks every 2 years trying to beat each other makes the concept even more ludicrous.

I’m sure I’ll tune in and will probably enjoy it but it’s pretty meaningless in the scheme of things IMO.

Friday and Saturday start at 12.10...make sure you get out early.

Looking forward this one. Famous last words but dont think there's much to fear from US overall, part of me thinking Europe could nick it. Close one overall though please, make it exciting

What gets me is the constant pseudo-epic orchestral music that Sky keep playing in the build-up and even either side of an ad break when the action starts. Just too much.

For the first time in a while, I fancy Europe. As a whole, players are in better form than their counterparts and Bethpage Black is notoriously difficult which won’t suit either side unless they’ve trimmed the rough. Feeling that makes it more of a level playing field, considering most are living and playing in the US.

Saying that, I’ve probably jinxed it now 😊

Rough is far shorter, this isn't being set up like a US Open course. The aim is birdies galore, bomb-and-gouge golf. Great for a Ryder Cup in fairness, just hope there's some driveable par 4s