the ryder cup teams

hi Tim
i do agree that Monty does not look to be at the top of his game and Clark does seem to have found his game again.
if Monty don't finish in the top three then i think Faldo will leave him out and pick Cassy and Clark. if Monty was to get in the top 3 then i think Faldo would then have to consider Monty.
cheers
bill

Hi Bill,

After Monty's first day yesterday, he really looked out of sorts but we'll see what happens this afternoon. He did come second in France early in the season so a good result this weekend plus his Cup stats/history I suppose would still give him a chance.

But I think you're right, anything less than a podium finish would make it difficult for Faldo to pick him.

Tim.

Well, Faldo didn't pick Monty but he didn't pick Dazza Clark either. Azinger has just picked his twelve (my edit sorry).

Any thoughts?


Tim.

Could be quite close this if you go by the rankings. Though of course the match ups won't work out like this man for man the teams are well matched.

4 Padraig Harrington 2 Phil Mickelson
5 Sergio Garcia 8 Steve Stricker
6 Henrik Stenson 9 Stewart Cink
12 Lee Westwood 13 Jim Furyk
14 Justin Rose 15 Anthony Kim
18 Miguel Angel Jimenez 17 Kenny Perry
21 Robert Karlsson 23 Justin Leonard
25 Ian Poulter 33 Ben Curtis
31 Graeme McDowell 35 Boo Weekley
36 Paul Casey 37 Hunter Mahan
44 Soren Hansen 53 Chad Campbell
48 Oliver Wilson 55 JB Holmes

Me, I'm just waiting for Sporting Index to open the spread betting book on the number of fatuous, irritating and pointless "in the holes" that our Americasn cousins will dish up.

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Hi all,

I would have picked Darren Clarke and Brian Davis (the Englishman on the American tour). I am impressed by Davis. All in all I am shocked by Faldo's picks . IMO America will win.

Bogeygolfer.

Hunter Mahan interviewed at Golf.com



The Presidents Cup sounds like fun. Has the Ryder Cup become a chore?



Phil Mickelson and Tiger — their time is worth money. And for the PGA of America, the Ryder Cup is a moneymaker like no other. They don't have to pay anything. I think when [Mark] O'Meara said players should get paid for it or some of the money given to their charities, I think [he said that] because the PGA takes so much out of the event that the players don't really get anything. Is it an honor to play? Yes, it is. But their time is valuable. This is a business.


So there's resentment?

I just feel like the players don't have much control over it, and I don't think they like that. I wouldn't like that.



How do you explain the U.S. team's recent woes?

I think Europe really, really takes it seriously. I think the U.S. does, too, but not like Europe. For one, every place they hold a Ryder Cup in Europe is a place on the European Tour schedule. That's really smart because right away they have an advantage. The PGA of America could care less about winning it, honestly. They pick a site where they're going to have the Senior PGA, the PGA and the Ryder Cup, which means less money they have to pay out to get more money. And from what I've heard the whole week is extremely long. You've got dinners every night — not little dinners, but huge, massive dinners. I know, as players, that's the last thing we want to do. We want to prepare ourselves. That's part of the whole thing: you're just a slave that week. At some point the players might say, "You know what — we're not doing this anymore, because this is ridiculous."


Guys might actually refuse to play?

Don't be surprised if it happens. It's just not a fun week like it should be. The Presidents Cup is fun. Jack just makes it fun. We had a great time, we really enjoyed each other's company. From what I've heard, the Ryder Cup just isn't fun. The fun is sucked right out of it. That's the word I hear a lot.




So, (this is me speaking now and not Hunter Mahan) it might be a good match up on paper but are the Americans really serious about winning the Ryder Cup?


Tim.

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I believe that the majority if not all of American's on the team are serious about winning. But the big problem is that America's top players are not really on form. Phil and Furyk do not really look like they are hitting on all gears and are struggling. Which puts a coach in a tough situation if they fail to win their opening matches do you sit them down?

I believe past coaches should have set Phil. IT hurt the team by running him out every match, while some lesser known player was playing better that weekend was sitting. Tiger in his early days looked like he did not want to be there but in the last couple matches it looks like he is concerned about his record and trying to achieve a winning Ryder cup record. I think he is driven to go down as the greatest ever and when those records are brought up in comparison to Jack he is dead set on improving it, though his insistance to be paired with Furyk last time seemed to tie the coaches hand in pairings. It will hurt not having Tiger.

I think that Azzinger went with a young team and will try and get some emotion into the matches early. I also think that the young players have the most to win playing in a Ryder Cup. They may not get paid but you can not tell me that playing well will lead to bigger sponsorship deals etc. and a lot more exposure for them. These types of players should want to be there.

I think you are right. If the US can create some sense of team spirit they are all good enough players to shoot some hot golf despite the season results.

The underdog position for the US with a hollering crowd behind them is the most dangerous position for Europe to find itself in.


Tim.

If the USA suffer another big defeat I can see the whole competition being in doubt. American's don't like losing. They enjoy the Presidents cup because they win it. If they lose then expect to hear more rumblings about not getting paid etc.

The Europeon's take it seriously because for years we used to get hammered. We weren't good enough to give the Americans a game. Now it's our turn. Also the American's have a superior attitude. There players are the best, they tour is the best etc. Winning the Ryder Cup shows that the Europeon's have some of the best players in the world.

The American team looks very weak to me. Remember the 1999 team ? The only rookie was David Duval who was number 2 in the world at the time. The "fear factor" of playing world class americans has gone completely. They haven't replaced quality players such as Payne Stewart, Davis Love, Fred Couples, Paul Azinger etc.

However the Europeon team doesn't look quite as strong as the 2006 team so I expect a narrow Europeon victory. I can't see a repeat of the last 2 victories. I'm going for a 16. 12 win for Europe.

Monty has always been great at match play...

Just anounced the opening matches. I find it interesting that US is not running out Holmes in the morning. Given his familarity with the course his length of the tee I would have thought he would be playing Four ball and would be good for a number of birdies.

It looks like it is Phil and Kim v. Harrington and Karlsson

US is going to need this one, Running out 2 of it's top players. I think they will get the point.

Mahan and Leonard v. Casey and Stenson

I would have to go with Europe in this one. But this might be a good alternate shot team for the US they won't beat themselves.

Cambell and Cink v. Poulter and Rose.

Surprised Cambell got the call. I say this one is a draw.

Perry and Furyk v Westwood and Garcia

Give the edge to Europe.

Europe 2-1-1 after foursomes.

Good projection